Page 168 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Lycaenidae
TRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION Inland eastern Australia
DIS
HABIT
HABITAT T Arid to semi-arid acacia woodlands
HABITAT
A
HOST PLANTS
HOST PLANTS
HOS T PLANT S Grey Mistletoe (Amyema quandang)
NOTE
NO TE Nocturnal-feeding caterpillar that is often attended by small ants
NOTE
CONSERV
T
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but large areas of known habitat have been
CONSERVATION STATUS
A
TION S
TUS
A
cleared for agriculture
ADULT WINGSPAN
1⁄ in (34 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
⅞ in (22 mm)
OGYRIS BARNARDI
BRIGHT PURPLE AZURE
166
(MISKIN, 1890)
Caterpillars of the Bright Purple Azure hatch from eggs that are
laid singly on the leaves and flower buds of the Grey Mistletoe

host plant. Early instar caterpillars feed openly on the leaves
during the day, but larger caterpillars shelter by day in borer
holes or under loose bark close to the shrub. They are usually
attended by a few small, black ants and emerge at night to feed.
In southern areas of the species’ range, there is one generation
a year, but in northern areas there are several broods.

The caterpillars pupate where they shelter, attached by anal
hooks into a silken pad and supported by a central silken girdle.

The adults fly rapidly around the host tree, settling frequently on
dead twigs or feeding at flowers. The largely Australian Ogyris

genus has 15 species, many with blue, iridescent coloration, all
associated with ants, although for three species the caterpillars
Actual size are thought to be predatory on immature ants.

The Bright Purple Azure caterpillar is pale
grayish green to pinkish brown with attened,
dark brown, anterior and posterior extremities.
There are pale brown, dorsal, chevron markings,
and the anal and prothoracic plates are dark
brown. The body is covered in brown and black,
minute, secondary setae. The head is yellowish
brown and hidden beneath the prothorax.