Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia)

Member of Family: Lycaenidae   

French common name: Azur nordique

This species is also known as the "Northern Spring Azure" and "Lucia Azure". It should be noted that this species can be extremely variable.  Though there are 3 recognized variant forms or "morphs" shown above, intermediate forms are often seen.  This species can be difficult to distinguish from the other closely related Celastrina species based solely on appearance ( especially in photographs ).  It is the most common species in most of Ontario, and the only species found in the North.  It is now believed to have a second flight in summer in much of Ontario, creating confusion with the Summer Azure.

There is still uncertainty about the taxonomy of the genus Celastrina in Ontario and the rest of Eastern Canada, and experts are not in agreement on where to draw the boundaries between species.  Some more recent research is referenced at this link: Ontario Insects page on Azures 

To see where this butterfly has been reported, visit:  The Ontario Butterfly Atlas Online

For further info on this species, refer to the Butterflies of Canada

(Note: Although the Butterflies of Canada describes Celastrina ladon, much of that description actually applies to the Celastrina lucia.  Since the publishing of The Butterflies of Canada, the two species were determined to be distinct, and C. lucia is the more common of the two species in Ontario. )