The Summer Azure is a small butterfly found throughout much of eastern North America. It is typically active later in the season than the Spring Azure, often appearing from midsummer into early fall. Males have pale silvery-blue upper wings, while females are slightly darker with faint black edging. When at rest, their closed wings appear light gray with subtle, dark markings.

 

“Summer Azure” by Joshua Mayer, licensed under (CC BY-SA 2.0)

 

Summer Azure Facts

Butterfly Family: Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Polyommatinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 15/16 – 1 1/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Various habitats including stream valleys, powerline right-of-ways, and gardens

 

🪴Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)

• Leafy Elephant’s Foot (Elephantopus carolinianus)

• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

• Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

• Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)

• Spiraea (Spiraea spp.)

• White Crownbeard (Verbesina virginica)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Summer Azure butterflies feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

• Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

• Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

• Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

• Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)

• Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)

• Sneezeweed (Helenium spp.)

• Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

• Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)