Hypochrysops narcissus (Fabricius, 1775)
(one synonym : Hesperia livius)
Narcissus Jewel
LUCIINI , THECLINAELYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 7 June 2008)

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

The Caterpillar is brown with a black head, and a yellow 'V' shaped mark on the back of abdominal segment six.

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

The Caterpillar has been found feeding on various plants including :

  • False Almond ( Terminalia catappa, COMBRETACEAE ),
  • River Mangrove ( Aegiceras corniculatum, MYRSINACEAE ),
  • Bakau ( Rhizophora stylosa, RHIZOPHORACEAE ),
  • Grey Mangrove ( Avicennia eucalyptifolia, ACANTHACEAE ),
  • Swamp Mahogany ( Lophostemon suaveolens, MYRTACEAE ),
  • Notothixos incanus ( VISCACEAE ), and
  • Long Flowered Mistletoe ( Dendrophthoe vitellina, LORANTHACEAE ).

    Hypochrysops narcissus       Hypochrysops narcissus
    (Photos: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

    The pupae are pale grey with dark brown spots.

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

    The upper surface of the adult butterfly is black with blue basal areas.

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

    The undersurfaces of the wings are multicoloured, with areas of brown, yellow, red, black, white, and iridescent green.

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

    The wingspan is about 3 cms.

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

    The species occurs in Indonesia, New Guinea, with two subspecies being recognised in Australia :

  • sabirus on the Cape York Peninsula, and
  • narcissus elsewhere in Queensland.

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


    Further reading :

    Michael F. Braby,
    Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 2, pp. 654-655.

    Edward Donovan,
    An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea, Otaheite, and Other Islands in the Indian, Southern, and Pacific Oceans,
    London, 1805.


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