Hypochrysops epicurus

Hypochrysops epicurus Miskin, 1876
Dull Jewel
LUCIINI , THECLINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 28 June 2008)

Hypochrysops epicurus
(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

This Caterpillar may be green, brown, pink or grey. It has pale sides, a broad dark dorsal line containing a narrow white line, and pale patches on the thorax and abdominal segments five and six. It hides by day in crevices or a rolled leaf, and by night feeds on leaves of :

White Mangrove ( Avicennia marina, ACANTHACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The Caterpillar is always attended by ants from the genus

Anonychomyrma, DOLICHODERINAE.

(Photos: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The pupa is brown and formed in a sheltered crevice or similar spot on the foodplant.

male
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The male and female adults are different. The male is metallic blue on top with a narrow black margin.

(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The female is brown on top with an orange suffusion.

male, underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

Underneath, they are fawn with rows of red dashes edged with pale metallic green. The butterflies have a wing span of about 3 cms.

female, underside
(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The eggs are laid in clusters on twigs and leaf stems of a food plant. They are pale turquoise.

The species occurs in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.