Theclinesthes miskini
| Theclinesthes miskini | |
|---|---|
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| Dorsal view | |
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| Ventral view | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Theclinesthes |
| Species: | T. miskini |
| Binomial name | |
| Theclinesthes miskini (Lucas, 1889)[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Wattle Blue (Theclinesthes miskini) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Australia and New Guinea.[2]
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Description
The wingspan is about 20 mm. Adults have a pale blue upperside with chequered margins, but females also have a broad black band around the margins. They also have an arc of white scalloped markings on the hindwings. The underside of the wings is fawn with several white markings.
The larvae are dark green or brown with a dark dorsal band and pale diagonal streaks.
Ecology
The larvae generally feed on plants in the Fabaceae family including Paraserianthes lophantha, Sesbania cannabina, Acacia anceps, Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia flavescens, Acacia pycnantha, Acacia salicina, Acacia saligna, Acacia tetragonophylla, Acacia harpophylla, Acacia holosericea, Acacia neriifolia and Acacia victoriae, but also on Alectryon diversifolius, Atalaya variifolia, Hakea vittata and Eucalyptus polycarpa. Young seedlings are preferred to older foliage.
Larvae are occasionally attended by various black or green ants in the genus Iridomyrmex, Ochetellus, Calomyrmex, Camponotus, Notoncus, Paratrechina or Polyrhachis.[3]
Subspecies
- Theclinesthes miskini miskini (Australia: Cairns to Moruya, Northern Territory)
- Theclinesthes miskini arnoldi (Fruhstorfer, 1916) (Cape York, Bismarck Archipelago)
- Theclinesthes miskini eucalypti Sibatani & Grund, 1978 (Queensland)
References
- ↑ Theclinesthes at funet
- ↑ Australian Insects
- ↑ Braby, Michael F. (2004). The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0643090274.