Abstract
The identity of Celastrina species in eastern Canada is reviewed based on larval host plants, phenology, adult phenotypes, mtDNA barcodes and re-assessment of published data. The status of the Cherry Gall Azure (Celastrina serotina Pavulaan & Wright) as a distinct species in Canada is not supported by any dataset, and is removed from the Canadian fauna. Previous records of this taxon are re-identified as Celastrina lucia (Kirby) and Celastrina neglecta (Edwards). Evidence is presented that both Celastrina lucia and Celastrina neglecta have a second, summer-flying generation in parts of Canada. The summer generation of Celastrina lucia has previously been misidentified as Celastrina neglecta, which differs in phenology, adult phenotype and larval hosts from summer Celastrina lucia. DNA barcodes are highly conserved among at least three North American Celastrina species, and provide no taxonomic information. Celastrina neglecta has a Canadian distribution restricted to southern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and easternmost Alberta. The discovery of museum specimens of Celastrina ladon (Cramer) from southernmost Ontario represents a new species for the Canadian butterfly fauna, which is in need of conservation status assessment.
Highlights
Blues of the genus Celastrina Tutt, commonly known as azures, are perhaps the most familiar spring butterflies in Canada, occurring in all ecoregions except the high arctic
The Canadian Celastrina fauna is revised to consist of four species: C. lucia, Celastrina neglecta, C. ladon (Carolinian zone of southernmost Ontario), and C. echo
From eastern Ontario eastward, what was previously treated as three Celastrina species is revised to a single, facultative bivoltine species, C. lucia
Summary
Blues of the genus Celastrina Tutt, commonly known as azures, are perhaps the most familiar spring butterflies in Canada, occurring in all ecoregions except the high arctic Despite their ubiquity, their identification and taxonomy is difficult, with species boundaries and nomenclature having a long history of controversy and confusion. All North American Celastrina taxa were generally considered to represent variation within a single species described from Europe, C. argiolus (L.) (Langston 1975). This view remained essentially unchanged for another twenty years, with the exception of a second taxon, C. nigra (Forbes) recognized by Miller and Brown (1981) and Scott (1986). A summary of some of the changing concepts, in the historical literature, is given by Pratt et al (1994) and Pavulaan (2014)
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