Saltbush Blue Theclinesthes serpentatus
Wingspan: 18 mm
Sighted: January 2009 - our only sighting to date.
Wingspan: 18 mm
Sighted: January 2009 - our only sighting to date.
Larval Food Plants:
Chenopodiaceae (30 species) usually Atalaya, Atriplex, Einandia, Rhagodia, Chenopodium & *Chenopodium album.
This butterfly has many foodplants, some of which are weeds. We have yet to confirm any growing on the Plateau. Because of the photographed butterfly's perfect condition we feel it must have bred and hatched locally.
Two species of Atalaya grow on the NSW coast north of Grafton. We have planted one on our property and a Chenopodium, *Chenopodium album (2016).
The upperside of the Saltbush Blue is mainly brown with some areas of purplish-blue.
Occasionally attended by ants.