Diet

• Caterpillars feed primarily on legumes (Fabaceae).

• The larvae feed on developing flowers, buds, young growth and seedpods of their host plants.

• Adults visit a variety of flowers for nectar.

Range

• Hemiargus ceraunus has an exceptionally broad range extending from the southwestern United States and southern Texas through Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean to South America.

• It is widespread in Mexico, including Guerrero, and occurs in the Zihua area where suitable open, warm habitats and leguminous host plants are present.

Habitat

• The Ceraunus Blue favours open and sunny environments rather than dense forest.

• Typical habitats include tropical scrub, open woodland, forest edges, pastures, roadsides, clearings, vacant lots and other disturbed areas.

• It often flies very close to the ground, particularly around its larval host plants.

Description

• The Ceraunus Blue is a very small butterfly, with a wingspan of approximately 20–30 mm.

• Males have pale blue upper wings with a narrow dark border. Females are predominantly brown, although the bases of the wings often show a variable amount of blue.

• The underside is grey with rows of dark postmedian dashes and small dark spots. The hindwing has conspicuous dark spots near the outer margin, including a prominent black spot with an orange or reddish surround.

• The combination of its tiny size, blue male upperwings and strongly patterned grey underside helps distinguish it from other small blues in western Mexico.