Jalmenus pseudictinus

Jalmenus pseudictinus Kerr & Macqueen, 1967
Macqueen's Hairstreak
ZESIINI , THECLINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 30 May 2008)

Jalmenus pseudictinus
(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

This Caterpillar is green with a pair ofdark red dorsolarteral lines each containing two diagobal white lines on each segment. The head is black, and there are raised tubercles on each segment. The Caterpillar is attended by the black ants :

Froggatella kirbii ( DOLICHODERINAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

It feeds on the foliage of

Acacia humifusa ( MIMOSACEAE ),

Yellow Wattle, ( Acacia flavescens, MIMOSACEAE ),

Brigalow ( Acacia harpophylla, MIMOSACEAE ),

Bullock Bush ( Heterodendrum diversifolium, SAPINDACEAE ), and

Bird's Eye ( Alectryon connatus, SAPINDACEAE ).

(Photos: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

It pupates on a leaf or in a bark crevice of the food plant, the pupa being black. It has a length of about 1.5 cm.

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

The adult has grey wings with metallic green-blue central areas. There is a short black bar near the middle of the costa of each forewing, and two eye-spots by a little tail on each hindwing.

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

The under-surface has a pattern of black arcs on a fawn background. There are also a pair of eye-spots by the tail under each hindwing. It has a wingspan of about 3 cms.

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

It is found only in isolated areas of Queensland.

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