Description

The Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia) is a small butterfly with pale blue upper wings and grayish undersides adorned with dark spots, often found in forests, meadows, and along streams across northern North America, emerging early in the spring.

Range

Northern 2/3rds of the state

Similar Species

Different sources treat the Azures differently so determining Spring from Northern can be tricky. Current consensus seems to landing on Northern being the predominant species in Minnesota, with perhaps some Spring in the southern part of the state. Telling the difference involves some timing of flights, markings on the wings, perhaps host plants. I haven’t quite sorted that out but if you see a spring-flying Azure in the northern 2/3rds of the state, especially with dark markings, I would call it a Northern.

Host Plants

Dogwood (Cornus spp.), Viburnum (Viburnum spp.), Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), Meadowsweet (Spiraea spp.), Willow (Salix spp.), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)

Flight

Late-April to early June