Spring azure

Spring azures are small (22-35 mm wingspan) springtime butterflies. They were seen on a slightly darkened patch of a back-woods roadway where a large mammal had urinated. Many mainly male butterflies group there and sip nutrients, particularly salt, that are needed for mating.

Now, the spring azure is a fairly common butterfly in North America, but as they are only seen in the spring, and have a short lifetime, they are inconspicuous when perched and easy to miss. The delight occurs when they fly and the upper side of the wings are revealed. They are a marvellous blue (thus, the name).

On a forest road, a group of mainly male spring azures sips urine for its salt. When perched, this butterfly has its wings up and shows the camouflaged grey and black markings. But. when flying the delightful upper wings are seen.

A male spring azure flies off and reveals its top-wing colour. (The female butterfly has more black on it.) It will mate and die, having had only a couple of days as an adult. This is a difficult shot to get as the spring azure is a fast flier.