Hypochrysops miskini

Hypochrysops miskini (Waterhouse, 1903)
(previously known as : Miletus miskini)
Coral Jewel
LUCIINI , THECLINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 6 June 2008)

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

These Caterpillars are brown, with a broad line along the back that is generally black, except it is white on abdominal segments 1,2,6, and 7. The caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants, including :

Harvey's Buttonwood ( Glochidion harveyanum, EUPHORBIACIAE ),

Australian Native Lasiandra ( Melastoma affine, MELASTOMACEAE ),

Tetra Beech ( Tetrasynandra pubescens, MONIMIACEAE ),

Maesa dependens ( MYRSINACEAE ),

Brush Box ( Lophostemon confertus, MYRTACEAE ),

Northern Guioa ( Guioa acutifolia, SAPINDACEAE ),

Barbed Wire Bush ( Smilax australis , SMILACACEAE ),

Brown Kurrajong ( Commersonia bartramia, STERCULIACEAE ), and

Buku, ( Faradaya splendida, VERBENACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

They feed nocturnally, hiding by day in a curled leaf or in debris at the foot of the foodplant. They are always attended by the small black ants :

Anonychomyrma gilberti ( DOLICHODERINAE ).

(Photos: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The Caterpillars pupate in a curled leaf or under debris at the foot of the foodplant. The pupa is pale brown speckled with dark brown, and has a length of about 1.5 cms.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The adult male butterflies have wings that on top are purple with black margins.

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

The females are light blue with broad dark margins.

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

The undersides are grey with rows of overlapping orange spots outlined with metallic green. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

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

The eggs are white and flattened, with a width of about 1 mm. They are usually laid in small groups of one to five on the underside a leaf of a foodplant.

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

The species is found in Queensland.