Small Green-banded Blue Psychonotis caelius taygetus
Wingspan: 30mm - 32mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: December to May
Distribution: Cape York, FNQ to Wollongong, NSW
Status Claire Cottage: uncommon but slowly increasing in numbers
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be uncommon
Wingspan: 30mm - 32mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: December to May
Distribution: Cape York, FNQ to Wollongong, NSW
Status Claire Cottage: uncommon but slowly increasing in numbers
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be uncommon
Small Green-banded Blue Psychonotis caelius taygetus
Wingspan: 30mm - 32mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: December to May
Distribution: Cape York, FNQ to Wollongong, NSW
Status Claire Cottage: uncommon but slowly increasing in numbers
Status Dorrigo Plateau: uncommon
Butterfly Sightings:
Larva Sightings:
Larval Food Plants:
Habitat where found at Claire Cottage: Rainforest edge
Flight habit: Throughout the day.
Last autumn sighting - Dorrigo Plateau: 05/05/16,
Interesting observations:
24/01/21 - sighted flying high and settling on a mature Alphitonia excelsa - possibly egg depositing?
31/01/21 - sunning on upper-side of Alphitonia excelsa leaves and on fern leaves.
* We have recorded this small butterfly as uncommon but note it tends to stay near its Alphitonia food plant seldom visiting our butterfly garden. Being small it is not always an easy butterfly to notice high in our rainforest zones.
* In flight this little butterfly can appear to be black and white but, when it settles one sees the beautiful light iridescent blue markings.
* We have been planting more Alphitonias and as they mature we expect numbers of these butterflies to multiply.
* Here at Claire Cottage we have noted the Small Green-banded Blue larvae are not usually attended by ants.
Wingspan: 30mm - 32mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: December to May
Distribution: Cape York, FNQ to Wollongong, NSW
Status Claire Cottage: uncommon but slowly increasing in numbers
Status Dorrigo Plateau: uncommon
Butterfly Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE:
- Dec 2013, 2014,
- Jan 2011, 2015, 2016(3), 2021(2), 2023(2),
- Feb 2004, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016(2), 2021(3), 2022, 2023(4),
- Mar 2004, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2015(3), 2016, 2018(3)
- Apr 2012, 2018
- May 2016,
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: often on walks along Lower Bielsdown Rd.
Larva Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: Feb 2021,
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: None to date
Larval Food Plants:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: RHAMNACEAE: Alphitonia excelsa & Alphitonia petriei
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: (as for Claire Cottage)
- ELSEWHERE: as for Claire Cottage plus RHAMNACEAE: Alphitonia incana
Habitat where found at Claire Cottage: Rainforest edge
Flight habit: Throughout the day.
Last autumn sighting - Dorrigo Plateau: 05/05/16,
Interesting observations:
24/01/21 - sighted flying high and settling on a mature Alphitonia excelsa - possibly egg depositing?
31/01/21 - sunning on upper-side of Alphitonia excelsa leaves and on fern leaves.
* We have recorded this small butterfly as uncommon but note it tends to stay near its Alphitonia food plant seldom visiting our butterfly garden. Being small it is not always an easy butterfly to notice high in our rainforest zones.
* In flight this little butterfly can appear to be black and white but, when it settles one sees the beautiful light iridescent blue markings.
* We have been planting more Alphitonias and as they mature we expect numbers of these butterflies to multiply.
* Here at Claire Cottage we have noted the Small Green-banded Blue larvae are not usually attended by ants.