Hypochrysops delicia

Hypochrysops delicia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Hypochrysops
Species: H. delicia
Binomial name
Hypochrysops delicia
Hewitson, 1875
Synonyms
  • Miletus delicia delos Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914
  • Miletus delicia var. duaringae Waterhouse, 1903
  • Hypochrysops regina Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1895

The moonlight jewel (Hypochrysops delicia) is a member of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in eastern Australia.[1]

The wingspan is about 40 mm. The wings are iridescent turquoise on top, shading to black at the margins.

The larvae feed on Acacia species, including Acacia binervia, Acacia dealbata, Acacia flavescens, Acacia implexa, Acacia irrorata, Acacia leiocalyx, Acacia mearnsii, Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia parramattensis, Acacia pycnantha and Acacia spectabilis. It is usually attended by Crematogaster species. The larvae are brown and hairy with a dark dorsal stripe and diagonal markings, as well as a black head. It reaches a length of about 25 mm when fully grown.[2]

Subspecies

References

  1. Australian Biological Resources Study (1 February 2016). "Species Hypochrysops delicia Hewitson, 1875". Australian Faunal Directory. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  2. Lepidoptera Larvae of Australia
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