Summer Azure - Alabama Butterfly Atlas

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The Latin name “neglecta” is appropriate for these butterflies. For more than one hundred years, Summer Azures were overlooked as a species—considered only a seasonal form of Spring Azure. Not until 1995 were look-alike Spring and Summer Azures recognized as different entities.

Summer Azures are multi-brooded. Their common name, "Summer" Azure, is confusing because they produce a spring brood that is on the wing even before Spring Azures. In Alabama, much remains to be learned about the actual distribution and flight times of this commonly encountered but little understood butterfly. Keep in mind that historic records did not recognize this species, and that even armed with knowledge of its existence, identification of the spring brood is often difficult.

Summer Azures are widespread and common in Alabama, perhaps because they have a wide range of host plants. Often these plants bear flowers in tight clusters, and the azures place their eggs within bundles of buds. Young caterpillars bore holes, crawl inside, and eat the interior. Older caterpillars consume entire buds and flowers. When fully mature, a caterpillar typically crawls to the bottom of the plant and forms a chrysalis in leaf litter. The brownish pupa is highly camouflaged with dried leaves and tree bark.

Summer Azures range throughout most of the eastern United States although they are absent from much of peninsular Florida. Although widely reported from the upper two thirds of Alabama, they are less common in the lower Coastal Region.

Distribution and Abundance

A dot on the county map indicates that there is at least one documented record of the species within that county. In some cases, a species may be common throughout the county, in others it may be found in only a specific habitat. The High Count information shows the highest numbers recorded for this species as well as when and where they occurred.

The sightings bar graphs depict the timing of flight(s) within each of three geographic regions. Place your cursor on a bar within the graph to see the number of individuals recorded during that period.

The abundance calendar displays the total number of individuals recorded within each week of the month. Both the graphs and the calendar are on based data collection that began in 2000.

The records analyzed here are only a beginning. As more data is collected, these maps and graphs will paint a more accurate picture of distribution and abundance in Alabama. Submit your sightings to albutterflyatlas@gmail.com.

Sightings in the following counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox, Winston

Sightings in the past 5 years
Sightings in the past 5 - 10 years
Sightings more than 10 years ago

High count(s):

85 - Bibb - 6/1/2003
76 - Colbert - 5/3/2024
59 - Bibb - 5/22/2010

View county names by moving the mouse over a county or view a map with county names

Jan				Feb				Mar				Apr				May				Jun				Jul				Aug				Sep				Oct				Nov				Dec
1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
									2		6	7	10	35	167	504	388	343	548	722	311	241	124	146	139	155	175	50	102	117	171	109	68	41	68	17	1		1

Habitat

In or near almost any deciduous or mixed woodland. Generally inhabits more open areas than other azure species. Reportedly frequents human-inhabited areas more often than Spring Azures.

Summer Azure (*Celastrina neglecta*)

County

© Sara Bright

Deciduous woodland

Host and Nectar Plants

Numerous host plants from a variety of plant families are reported in other areas.

The plants highlighted in blue (below) have been documented in Alabama. Many other plants are probably used.

Summer Azures have been observed ovipositing on Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata), and Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus drummondii) but whether the larvae were able to survive on these plants is not known.

For more information about these plants, please visit the Alabama Plant Atlas using the links above.

Landscaping Ideas

The addition of Flowering Dogwood to the landscape provides caterpillar food for Summer and Spring Azures. They also nectar on its tiny "true" flowers. Other landscape-worthy dogwoods such as Swamp Dogwood will feed Summer Azures.

Provide a variety of garden worthy, nectar-rich flowers to attract Summer Azures and other butterflies. Good choices include Purple Coneflower and other coneflowers, phloxes, sneezeweeds, wingstems, mountain mints, Common Buttonbush, Joe Pye weeds, gayfeathers/blazing stars, Mistflower, ironweeds, and asters.

Note: Although Silk Tree/Mimosa is a documented host plant, it should never be planted in the landscape. It is a highly invasive, exotic tree that displaces native plants and ultimately is harmful to native wildlife including butterflies.