Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia)
Male - Carp, ON 2017/05/16
'Violaceae' morph - Halton, ON 2012/04/07
Female - Algonquin Provincial Park, ON 2012/05/19
'Lucia' Morph - North Gower, ON 2015/04/29
'Marginata' morph - Constance Bay, ON 2012/05/13
Female - Constance Bay, ON 2012/05/13
Member of Family: Lycaenidae
French common name: Azur nordique
This species is also known as the "Northern Spring Azure" and "Lucia Azure". It should be noted that this species can be extremely variable. Though there are 3 recognized variant forms or "morphs" shown above, intermediate forms are often seen. This species can be difficult to distinguish from the other closely related Celastrina species, but it is currently believed that this is the only species from this group that is found in the Maritimes.
This is discussed on the Maritimes Butterfly Atlas website.
For further info on this species, refer to the Butterflies of Canada
(Note: Although the Butterflies of Canada describes Celastrina ladon, much of that description actually applies to the Celastrina lucia. Since the publishing of The Butterflies of Canada, the two species were determined to be distinct, and C. lucia is the more common species in Quebec. )