Candalides helenita

Candalides helenita helenita (Semper, [1879])
(one synonym : Holochila androdus)
Helenita Blue
CANDALIDINI , POLYOMMATINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 21 March 2004)

male
(Picture: courtesy of CSIRO Entomology)

This Caterpillar ca be any colour from green to brown. It has ridge along the back with a dark brown knob, and has a pale brown head. It has been found feeding on young foliage of various plants, including :

Arytera pauciflora ( SAPINDACEAE ),

White Walnut ( Cryptocarya hypospodia, LAURACEAE ),

Cheese Tree ( Glochidion ferdinandi , EUPHORBIACEAE ), and

Flame tree ( Brachychiton acerifolium, STERCULIACEAE ).

The pupa is brown and has flanges on the abdomen. It is usually formed in a curled leaf at the foot of a foodplant.

The male and female adults are different. The males are blue above, with a narrow black margin around each wing. The males also have a white trident-shaped sex brand on each forewing. The females are dark brown above with a big white patch on each wing. Underneath, the sexes are similar : white with a few dark dots around the hindwing margins. The butterflies have a wing span of about 3 cms.

The eggs are rough, round, flattened, and white. They are laid singly on young shoots of a foodplant.

The species occurs as several subspecies, including :

dimorpha in New Guinea, and

helenita along the north east coast of Queensland.