Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 20,871 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Ceraunus Blue: observations by month (U.S.)
About Ceraunus Blue
Hemiargus ceraunus, the Ceraunus blue, is a butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is found in the southwestern United States, southern Texas, Florida and the Florida Keys south through the West Indies, Mexico and Central America to South America. Strays may be found in North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas and Nevada. The habitat consists of open woodland, desert scrub, dunes, pastures, road edges and vacant lots.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Ceraunus Blue by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 9,485 | October | Jul–Nov |
| Florida | 6,551 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Arizona | 2,837 | August | Jul–Oct |
| California | 1,433 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Georgia | 209 | October | Sep–Nov |
| New Mexico | 133 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Nevada | 71 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Louisiana | 57 | October | Sep–Oct |
| South Carolina | 29 | September | Aug–Nov |
| Missouri | 24 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Utah | 15 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 11 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Arkansas | 5 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Tennessee | 5 | September | Sep–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Gossamer-winged Butterflies)
Gray Hairstreak
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Red-banded Hairstreak
Marine Blue
Summer Azure
Western Pygmy-Blue
Reakirt's Blue
Acmon Blue
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ceraunus Blue?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from May to December.
Where is Ceraunus Blue most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, Arizona.