Names and Taxonomy
- Common Names: echo azure or western azure
- Synonyms:
- Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Family: Lycaenidae (Gossamer-winged Butterflies)
- Genus Information: nk species in NV, nk in CA, 2 in US
Celastrina echo
Echo Azure
Introduction:
The taxonomic division of Celastrina butterflies has been a very complicated issue. 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: 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.
Size 0.75-1.25 inches (19–32 mm)
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)
