The Skippers The Swallowtails The Whites and Sulphurs The Blues and Coppers The Gossamer-wings
Life Stages Diagram
The bars in this diagram show approximate times of the year when the butterfly will be present, in Nova Scotia, in its various life stages.

The dates shown for the adult stage are based on actual reports for Nova Scotia. The majority of reports will be within the period shown, but small numbers of adults will be earlier or later.

Dates for egg, larva and pupa are based on what information was available regarding time periods for eggs to develop, and typical time required for pupation. Like the adults, some records can be expected outside the date ranges we have shown. We caution that dates for these immature stages are mostly conjectural.

Northern Spring Azure - Celastrina lucia
[Northern Spring Azure image]
Northern Spring Azure - Pockwock, NS - 2004-05-13
Photo © Peter Payzant
What's this?
Status in Nova Scotia
Abundant.

Flight Period
Early April to end of August.

Habitat
Edges of woodlands, open woodlands, city parks, weedy fields

Larval Foodplants
a wide variety of flowering shrubs but also cherry galls

Similar Species in Nova Scotia
none

Notes
See this article by Schmidt and Layberry published 26 April 2016 which demonstrates that all Celastrina in the Maritimes are Northern Spring Azure (referred to by them as Northern Azure).

Further Reading


Northern Spring Azure - Moncton, NB, 2010-08-06
Northern Spring Azure - Moncton, NB - 2010-08-06
2010-08-06
Photo © Jim Edsall
Northern Spring Azure - Moncton, NB, 2010-06-10
Northern Spring Azure - Moncton, NB - 2010-06-10
2010-06-10
Photo © Jim Edsall
Northern Spring Azure - Peggy's Cove, NS, 2008-07-01
Northern Spring Azure - Peggy's Cove, NS - 2008-07-01
2008-07-01
Photo © Phil Schappert
Northern Spring Azure - Pockwock Road, NS, 2011-05-27
Northern Spring Azure - Pockwock Road, NS - 2011-05-27
2011-05-27
Photo © Phil Schappert
Northern Spring Azure - Pockwock Road, 2013-05-31
Northern Spring Azure - Female ovipositing on Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) - Pockwock Road - 2013-05-31
2013-05-31
Photo © Phil Schappert
Northern Spring Azure - Thomas Raddall PP, 2008-05-25
Northern Spring Azure - Male on leatherleaf, Chamaedaphne calyculata - Thomas Raddall PP - 2008-05-25
2008-05-25
Photo © Phil Schappert
Northern Spring Azure - Smiley's Provincial Park, 2014-06-23
Northern Spring Azure - Male on cherry sapling. - Smiley's Provincial Park - 2014-06-23
2014-06-23
Photo © Phil Schappert
Northern Spring Azure - Sambro, 2011-05-27
Northern Spring Azure - Sambro - 2011-05-27
2011-05-27
Photo © Dan Rolfe
Northern Spring Azure - Meadow Pond (Exit 5, Hwy 101 at Hwy 14), 2015-07-06
Northern Spring Azure - Larva on cherry gall - Meadow Pond (Exit 5, Hwy 101 at Hwy 14) - 2015-07-06
2015-07-06
Photo © Phil Schappert
Northern Spring Azure - Apple River, 2009-05-27
Northern Spring Azure - Apple River - 2009-05-27
2009-05-27
Photo © Kathleen Spicer
Northern Spring Azure - Victoria Park, Truro, 2021-05-15
Northern Spring Azure - Victoria Park, Truro - 2021-05-15
2021-05-15
Photo © William Crawford
Northern Spring Azure - Victoria Park, Truro, 2022-07-17
Northern Spring Azure - Victoria Park, Truro - 2022-07-17
2022-07-17
Photo © William D. Crawford