Jalmenus clementi

Jalmenus clementi Druce, 1902
(previously known as : Ialmenus clementi)
Clement's Blue
ZESIINI , THECLINAE , LYCAENIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 27 March 2004)

This Caterpillar is green or brown with a dark dorsal line edged in cream, and diagonal white lines on the side of each segment. The head and tail are dark brown with black hairs. It feeds on young Wattles ( MIMOSACEAE ), including :

Acacia alexandri,

Fire Wattle ( Acacia inaequilatera ), and

Kurara ( Acacia tetragonophylla ).

It is always attended by small black ants :

Iridomyrmex species ( DOLICHODERINAE ).

The pupa is mottled brown with a length of about 1 cm. It is usually attached to a leaf or stem of the foodplant.

The adult butterflies are pale brown on top with an iridescent patch on each wing. The patches are blue for the females, and green for the males. The hindwings have one or two black spots at the tornus, one edged in orange. The undersides are fawn with rows of brown spots edged in white.

The species occurs in Indonesia, New Guinea, and Western Australia.