Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 20,882 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Marine Blue: observations by month (U.S.)
About Marine Blue
Leptotes marina, the marine blue or striped blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in from South America through Mexico up to Southern Texas, Arizona and California.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Marine Blue by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 11,726 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Arizona | 5,315 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Texas | 1,659 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Mexico | 1,109 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Colorado | 383 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Nevada | 290 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 119 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Utah | 119 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Kansas | 66 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Nebraska | 29 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 13 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 8 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 7 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 6 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 6 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Arkansas | 5 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 5 | July | Jul–Sep |
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
Ceraunus 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 Marine Blue?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to October.
Where is Marine Blue most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Arizona, Texas.