Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 19,155 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
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 Summer Azure: observations by month (U.S.)
About Summer Azure
Celastrina neglecta, the summer azure, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in North America. Layberry, Hall, and Lafontaine, in The Butterflies of Canada, describe the species:From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Summer Azure by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 2,265 | June | May–Sep |
| Ohio | 2,012 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Illinois | 1,778 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 1,630 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Virginia | 1,603 | August | May–Sep |
| North Carolina | 1,425 | July | May–Aug |
| New York | 1,256 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Georgia | 1,167 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 588 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Tennessee | 557 | August | May–Aug |
| New Jersey | 506 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Indiana | 440 | July | May–Aug |
| Minnesota | 437 | July | Jun–Aug |
| South Carolina | 422 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Kentucky | 314 | July | May–Sep |
| Missouri | 252 | June | May–Sep |
| Iowa | 244 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 212 | July | Jun–Aug |
| West Virginia | 211 | June | May–Aug |
| Connecticut | 198 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Arkansas | 192 | May | May–Sep |
| Alabama | 187 | June | May–Sep |
| Delaware | 152 | July | May–Sep |
| Kansas | 150 | July | May–Jul |
| Vermont | 131 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Nebraska | 116 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 104 | July | Jun–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 85 | June | May–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 82 | May | May–Jul |
| Maine | 79 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Texas | 77 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Florida | 62 | May | Mar–May |
| Louisiana | 62 | May | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 47 | May | Apr–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 38 | July | Jun–Aug |
| South Dakota | 30 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 29 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Colorado | 10 | July | Jul–Aug |
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
Ceraunus Blue
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 Summer Azure?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from May to September.
Where is Summer Azure most often seen?
The most observations come from Maryland, Ohio, Illinois.