4 Records

The Cherry Gall Azure (Celastrina serotina) is a recently-described species (Wright and Pavulaan, 2006) whose flight appears to be temporally separated from flight periods of related species of azure. The caterpillars primarily feed on eriophyid mite galls on cherry leaves in the southern part of the range, the source of the common name. This butterfly is distinctively pale whitish on the underside, and flies between the flight period of Spring and summer form Summer Azures. In Maryland, this species is common, but restricted to western Maryland. It has a univoltine flight in May (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith).

Larvae usually feed upon galls formed by eriophyid mites on Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) leaves, but sometimes use developing floral primordia (developing flowers) on other plant species, especially in northern portions of range.