Freyeria putli

Freyeria putli (Kollar, [1844])
(one synonym: Lycaena putli)
Grass Jewel
POLYOMMATINI , POLYOMMATINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 14 May 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of Martin Purvis)

This Caterpillar is green with a dark dorsal line and pale lines along the sides. It has a black head. The Caterpillar feeds on the buds and flowers of various plants in : FABACEAE ), including :

Flemingia lineata,

Indigofera colutea, and

Hairy Indigo ( Indigofera hirsuta ),

and is usually attended by small black ants of a variety of species.

The pupa is green and hairy, with a length of about 0.5 cm. It is usually held by the tail and a girdle around the middle on top of a leaf of the foodplant.

male and female upper surfaces
(Photo: courtesy of Yusuke Takanami & Yasuo Seki)

The adults are brown with an arc of black spots along the margins of the hind wings on the upper surfaces.

male and female undersides
(Photo: courtesy of Yusuke Takanami & Yasuo Seki)

Underneath, the wings are fawn, with many dark spots outlined in white, and with an arc of black spots outlined in orange along the margin of each hind wing. The wingspan is up to 2 cms.

The eggs are white, round and flattened. They are laid singly on flower buds or under leaves of a foodplant.

The species occurs from India to the Philippines, and in the north of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, and New South Wales.