Catapyrops florinda

Catapyrops florinda (Butler, 1877)
(previously known as : Nacaduba florinda)
Speckled Line Blue
POLYOMMATINI , POLYOMMATINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 13 May 2008)

Catapyrops florinda
(Photo: courtesy of Martin Purvis, taken in Glenbrook, NSW)

This Caterpillar is initially green with white spots and short dense white hair over most of the body, and black hair on the thorax and back. It is sometimes attended by black ants. It is known to feed on :

Molucca Bean ( Caesalpina bonduc, CAESALPINIACEAE ),

Tulipwood ( Harpullia pendula, SAPINDACEAE ),

Poison Peach ( Trema tomentosa, ULMACEAE ), and

Australian Mulberry ( Pipturus argenteus , URTICACEAE ).

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The male and female adults are similar: brown on top with a blue sheen. Underneath, they are fawn with rows of darker spots. Both upper and lower surfaces of each hind wing have a short thin tail between a pair of black spots. The butterflies have a wing span of about 2 cms.

underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The species occurs as various subspecies from Indonesia to New Caledonia, and in Australia as :

halys in southern Queensland and New South Wales, and

estrella in the north of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland.