Fun Cassius Blue Butterfly Facts For Kids

The cassius blue (Leptotes cassius) is a species of tiny-sized butterflies that can be found across different regions of the world. Some of the most common places where they can be found are South Carolina, south Florida, Central America, South America, and south Texas. They are a beautiful group of butterflies and are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females have different physical characteristics. Males are a pale blue to bright blue in color, while females are bluish-white in color. The hind wings of both males and females are covered with dark spots. The egg is laid singly by the female on the flower buds of host plants by the females which develops into larva, also known as a caterpillar. The caterpillar of this species largely feeds on wild tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum) and Fabaceae, which is a type of flowering plant. The larvae host are milkpea (Galactia volubilis), cape leadwort (Plumbago auriculata), and other varieties of vines and plants. At the end of the caterpillar stage, it develops into a pupae and finally reaches adulthood.  The cassius blue is known to feed on the flowers of a variety of different plant species.

For more relatable content, check out these morpho butterfly facts and queen butterfly facts for kids.
 

What type of animal is a cassius blue butterfly?

The cassius blue (Leptotes cassius) is a species of butterfly. Some other types of butterflies are the viceroy butterfly and queen butterfly.

What class of animal does a cassius blue butterfly belong to?

The cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius) belongs to the Insecta class of animals.

How many cassius blue butterflies are there in the world?

The population of the cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius) is not known. However, there is no probable chance in the near future of them being extinct as they are not facing any grave threat as of now. They have managed to maintain a somewhat stable population across different regions of the world.

Where does a cassius blue butterfly live?

The cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius) can be found throughout the regions of North America, like Florida, Texas, and South Carolina, as well as regions in Central America and South America.

What is a cassius blue butterfly's habitat?

The cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius) is known to inhabit places like weedy fields, edges of forests, and thorn scrubs.

Who do cassius blue butterflies live with?

Not much is known about the movement of cassius blue butterflies. However, butterflies in general form groups or pairs while traveling.

How long does a cassius blue butterflies live?

The exact lifespan of this butterfly is not yet known. Butterflies, in general, tend to have a lifespan ranging from a day to several months depending on the species and the region where they are found.

How do they reproduce?

Like any other species of butterflies, the cassius blue goes through four stages, namely, egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Cassius blue butterfly eggs are whitish-green in color and laid by adult female butterflies on the flower buds of host plants. Following this, the larvae, also known as caterpillars, are formed. The larvae are generally green in color and covered with white-colored patterns. The caterpillars are known to feed on a specific type of flowering plants known as Fabaceae and wild tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum). The larvae hosts are milkpea, (Galactia volubilis), cape leadwort (Plumbago auriculata), and other varieties of vines and plants. The caterpillars then further develop into pupae, which are covered with dark markings and short hair. At the end of this stage, it finally develops into an adult butterfly.

What is their conservation status?

Found in regions of Florida, Texas, and South Carolina, the conservation status of these butterflies is Not Evaluated under the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, the cassius blue (Leptotes cassius) is currently listed as Secure under the Nature Serve Conservation Status system and can be found widely across different regions of the world. There is no imminent threat to their population.

What do cassius blue butterflies look like?

Cassius blue butterflies (Leptotes cassius) are sexually dimorphic which means the physical characteristics differ from male to female. The upper side of males is pale to bright blue in color, while the females are lighter in shade, with more of a bluish-white color. The outlines of the forewings of a female are darker in color as compared to males. The hind wings of both males and females are covered with dark spots. The eggs of these butterflies that are laid on the flowering buds host plant are white in color and the caterpillar is green in color covered with white patterns.

How cute are they?

Almost all butterflies are extremely beautiful and cute. The tiny size, brightly colored bodies, and dark-spotted hind wings of these butterflies enhance their beauty further. A group of cassius blue butterflies, with their beautiful colored bodies, flying in the air is a sight to behold.

How do they communicate?

The exact communication process used by the cassius blue (Leptotes cassius) is not yet known. However, most butterflies communicate with each other through pheromones. Pheromones are chemical substances that are released by males to entice the females during reproduction.

How big is a cassius blue butterfly?

The cassius blue (Leptotes cassius) is a tiny-sized butterfly. An adult cassius blue grows up to a size of 0.6-1 in (16-25 mm ). They are much smaller in size than the Queen Alexandra's birdwing which is the largest species of butterfly in the world.

How fast can a cassius blue butterfly fly?

The exact speed of a cassius blue (Leptotes cassius) is not yet known. They are known to possess a wingspan of 0.8-1.4 in (20–35 mm) and fly with the help of these magnificent wings.

How much does a cassius blue butterfly weigh?

The cassius blue (Leptotes cassius) is a tiny species of butterfly and the weight of these butterflies is not yet known.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no gender-specific name for these butterflies. A male is called a male cassius blue butterfly and a female goes by the name of a female cassius blue butterfly.

What would you call a baby cassius blue butterfly?

A butterfly goes through three different stages before finally reaching adulthood. These stages are called eggs, larva or caterpillar, and pupa. First, the female lays the egg and when the egg hatches, the young one is called larva or caterpillar.

What do they eat?

Cassius blue butterflies are known to feed on the nectars of a variety of flowering plants like Lippia, Shepherd's needle. The caterpillar or larvae feeds on wild tamarinds.

Are they poisonous?

No, the cassius blue butterfly is not poisonous. In fact, most species of butterflies are not poisonous and do not pose a threat to human beings at all.

Would they make a good pet?

The cassius blue butterfly is a tiny species of butterfly. Therefore, handling them can turn out to be a great difficulty for owners. These are wild insects and therefore should not be caged in one's home. Furthermore, a view of these beautiful butterflies with their dark-spotted hind wings flying in the air is much more soothing than seeing them in any caged environment.

Did you know...

The protagonist of the novel 'Special Topics In Calamity Physics' by Marisha Pessel, was named after the cassius blue butterfly and was called Blue van Meer.

How did cassius blue butterflies get their name?

It is not yet known how cassius blue butterflies derive their unique name.

Why is the cassius blue butterfly important?

Butterflies in general are extremely important to the environment. They are indicators of a healthy and balanced ecosystem and environment. They help pollinate flowers and are an important part of the food chain. They also help scientists to determine how some manmade disasters are impacting nature around us.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods from our purple emperor butterfly facts and viceroy butterfly facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable cassius blue butterfly coloring pages.