Most of the Blues we see are small, low-flying butterflies.
In many cases they are difficult to identify without a good photograph.
Male Blues generally are more colourful than females with varying degrees of iridescent blue on the upperside of their wings, although all the Green Banded Blues have beautiful turquoise markings on the underside of their wings. Female Blues are often quite drab on the upperside. Because of their small size both males and females can become difficult to see when at rest with their wings closed.
Many of their caterpillars and pupae are attended by ants which offer them some protection from predators including parasitic wasps and flies. Reward for these security guard duties is access to a sweet substance the ants milk from special glands on the caterpillars.
There are still mysteries surrounding this symbiotic relationship between so many of the Blue species and ants. australianmuseum.net.au/lycaenid-butterflies-and-ants
At the beginning of 2016 we had sighted eight different Blues on our property. We hope to discover more here over time.
Blues which we have not yet sighted here which we think could live on the Dorrigo Plateau are:
In many cases they are difficult to identify without a good photograph.
Male Blues generally are more colourful than females with varying degrees of iridescent blue on the upperside of their wings, although all the Green Banded Blues have beautiful turquoise markings on the underside of their wings. Female Blues are often quite drab on the upperside. Because of their small size both males and females can become difficult to see when at rest with their wings closed.
Many of their caterpillars and pupae are attended by ants which offer them some protection from predators including parasitic wasps and flies. Reward for these security guard duties is access to a sweet substance the ants milk from special glands on the caterpillars.
There are still mysteries surrounding this symbiotic relationship between so many of the Blue species and ants. australianmuseum.net.au/lycaenid-butterflies-and-ants
At the beginning of 2016 we had sighted eight different Blues on our property. We hope to discover more here over time.
Blues which we have not yet sighted here which we think could live on the Dorrigo Plateau are:
- Bronze Ant Blue - Acrodipsas brisbanensis
- Speckled Lineblue - Catopyrops florinda