General: Marine Blue Butterflies (Leptotes marina) are small butterflies recognized by their blue upperwings. The underside of the forewing has unbroken pale brown bands, and the hindwing has broken brown bands plus two orange spots near the margin. These butterflies range in size from about 1/2- to 1-inch long.

Taxonomy: Family: Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Lycaenidae); Subfamily: Blues (Polyommatinae).

Distribution: Occurs throughout the western United States and northern Mexico.

Comments: The blues fly fast and erratically, making it hard to photograph them in flight, then they land and hold the wings together hiding the blue color.