Getting the Blues
Big Lessons in Little Azure (Celastrina) Butterflies
Although they measure barely an inch across, the azures (in the genus Celastrina) cause a mile of wonderful consternation among lepidopterists. Even as these butterflies present sparks of blue in spring, their taxonomy remains somewhat cloudy. I won’t resolve it for you here. Instead, I’ll tell you some of what we know or suspect about these blues, including revelations from some amazing research in Canada. Along the way, you’ll discover how butterflies can expand our knowledge of nature, and maybe even allow you to witness evolution happening in your own backyard. So, in time for the azures of April and May, read more in my illustrated explainer (a four-page PDF) called Getting the Blues »
Source: Schmidt BC, Layberry RA. What Azure blues occur in Canada? A re-assessment of Celastrina Tutt species (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). ZooKeys 584: 135–164. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.584.7882
Why not, half of it is already on mine.
Aw, shucks. Thanks, Bruce. You’re very kind. Can I put “erudite silliness” on my CV???? 🙂
I loved this article for the the pleasure of being able to tag along, mute, amused and impressed by your erudite silliness. You are making this desolate spring much easier to bear. Thank you.
Thanks, Dave. I’d love to get north again for blues! Hope all is well up your way!
Yeah, blue is an odd color in nature — so often the result of light scattering rather than pigment. It can be sorta other-worldly.
Thanks, Eloise. Yeah, Jim would have loved it. We all miss him — a lot. Especially when leps are on the wing.
Wonderful, Brian. Jim would have loved this!
That is the most heavenly blue, one of the best in nature!
Thanks Bryan for another great article. Proves once again, the more we know, the more we don’t know.