Celastrina echo cinerea

Western Azure

Introduction:

Celastrina echo, the echo azure or western azure, is a species of blue in the butterfly family Lycaenidae. Celastrina echo have been observed in mostly western regions of the United States, including California, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Montana. The taxonomic division of Celastrina butterflies has been a very complicated issue. Currently, most scientists agree that C.echo is a distinguished species. There are five sub-species with the Southwestern Azure (Celastrina echo cinerea) seen in the mojave. The butterflies in the Lycaenidae family in general are usually flat as larvae. The adult individuals are usually small and have hairy, ringed antenna-like tails. Their wings are mostly bright glowing blue and green. A large portion of Lycaenidae butterflies are found to have different associations with ants, either mutualistic, parasitic, or predatory.
Life Cycle:

Size 0.9 to 1.25 in (2.3 to 3.2 cm)
Sexual Dimorphism: Males are a bright, solid blue on the upper side with no black markings, while females are a more muted, dusky blue that often includes a broad black band along the outer edge of the forewings and a row of gray or black spots on the hindwings.
Metamorphosis: complete (egg, larva, pupa, adult)

C. echo in particular is usually pale blue-grey with small black spots or dashes. Based on the limited observations reported and the life history records of the other blue butterflies (Polyommatini), C. echo's known life history starts with eggs laid on the flower buds of its host plants. Attended and protected by the ants, C. echo's larvae feed on the flower buds and flowers while ants receive sugar-rich honeydew from them throughout the larval lifespan. C. echo then may pupate within ant nests. Some Lycaenidae species become parasites or even predator within the ant nest. The specific relationships to ants in the later life stage of C. echo are not quite clear. C. echo are often observed in woodlands, shrublands, and near mountain streams places that have woody host plants they feed on. Depending on the moisture and relative condition of the larval hostplants, C. echo may fly in 1-2 or more broods from early spring to the fall (around February to late June, July, or even till October if there is no severe cold weather).

Insect Data

Names and Taxonomy

Common Names: Echo Azure, Western Azure, Western Spring Azure, Echo Blue
Synonyms:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Lycaenidae)
Genus Information: Number of Species 1 in AZ, 1 in NM, 1 in NV, 1 in CA, 1 in UT, 9 in US