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.

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, Colbert, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dallas, Dekalb, 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, 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
59 - Bibb - 5/22/2010
53 - Franklin - 9/25/2016

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
									1		3	1	3	18	59	278	320	290	389	574	247	162	81	94	115	120	117	35	67	82	135	92	50	26	62	1	1		1

Habitat

In or near deciduous woodlands. Generally inhabits more open areas than other azure species. Reportedly frequents human-inhabited areas more often than Spring Azures do.

Host and Nectar Plants

Many host plants are reported in other areas.

These host plants have been verified in Alabama: Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Swamp Dogwood (Cornus stricta), Common Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia), Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum). Other plants are probably used as well.

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

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 will also nectar on it tiny "true" flowers. Other landscape-worthy dogwoods such as Swamp Dogwood will feed Summer Azures.