Hypochrysops theon

Hypochrysops theon C. & R. Felder, 1865
LUCIINI , THECLINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 21 June 2008)

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

These Caterpillars are pinkish brown with dark stripes along the corrugated body. The front and tail ends are rather flattened. The caterpillars grow to a length of about 2 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

They feed on the Ferns ( POLYPODIACEAE ) :

Bashing ( Drynaria quercifolia ), and

Northern Elkhorn ( Platycerium hillii ).

The Caterpillars are always attended by :

Australian Golden Ants ( Philidris cordatus, DOLICHODERINAE ).

(Photos: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The pupa is mottled brown with a length of about 1.5 cms. It is formed in the ground debris at the foot of a foodplant.

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

The adult male butterflies on top are metallic blue with a black border to each wing, and a white patch on each forewing.

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

The females are black with the same white patches.

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

Underneath, they both have pale brown forewings with metallic green and black edges, and hindwings that are metallic green with black bars across them.

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

The male adults have a wingspan of about 3 cms., and the females about 4 cms.

The eggs are round and flattened, and off-white in colour.They are laid singly on or near rhizomes of a foodplant.

(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

This species is found in New Guinea and Australia. In Australia, two subspecies have been recognised :

medocus, and

cretatus.

Both are found only on Cape York and adjacent islands.