Euchrysops cnejus

Euchrysops cnejus Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914
(one synonym : Cupido amazara)
Cupid
POLYOMMATINI , POLYOMMATINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 14 May 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of Martin Purvis)

This Caterpillar is green with a purple dorsal line, and pale diagonal stripes on the side of each segment. It is hump-backed, somewhat hairy, and has a dark brown head. It is frequently attended by various species of ants. The Caterpillar feeds on the buds, flowers, and seed pods of various climbing FABACEAE, such as:

Pidgeon Peas ( Cajanus cajan ),

Cajanus reticulatus,

Siratro ( Macroptilium atropurpureum ),

Phasey Bean ( Macroptilium lathyroides ),

Beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris ),

Dalrymple Beans ( Vigna luteola ),

Southern Pea ( Vigna unguiculata ), and

Zombi Peas ( Vigna vexillata ).

The pupa is cream with black spots.

male and female upper surfaces
(Photo: courtesy of Yusuke Takanami & Yasuo Seki)

The adult male butterflies are mauve, and the females brown suffused with mauve around the base. Both sexes have small tails on the hind wings. The males have two black spots by each tail. The females have a subterminal arc of black spots by each tail.

male and female undersides
(Photo: courtesy of Yusuke Takanami & Yasuo Seki)

The undersides of both sexes are very similar. Both are fawn with arcs of brown dots on every wing, and two black spots by the tail on each hind wing. The wingspan is about 7 cms.

The eggs are white and laid singly on young buds and shoots of a foodplant.

The species occurs as several races throughout south-east Asia, from India to Samoa, including Singapore, and the Philippines. The subspecies cnidus occurs on the tropical coast of the Northern Territory and Queensland.