FAMILY NAME: Lycaenidae GENUS/SPECIES: Theclinesthes onycha SUB SPECIES: Capricornia COMMON NAMES: Onycha Blue
SIZE: Wingspan approx 24mm or 1".
LOCATION: The Onycha is found in coastal and sub coastal open eucalypt forests of New South Wales and south east Queensland, where host plants are growing. The Capricornia is found in coastal regions from central Queensland, right up to Cape York.
LIFE CYCLE:
- The Eggs are bluish/white in colour, and are so small that any features of their shape are not visible with the naked eye. They are laid on host plants.
- The Larvae are initially green, becoming dark brown to brownish/black. The maximum length of the larva is about 10mm or 1/3". The larvae are active during the night, and hide under the leaves during the day.
- The Pupae are dark brown and fixed to the underside of leaves of the host plant.
- The Adult Butterflies upper wings are pale brown in colour, becoming a metallic blue, toward the abdomen. The underside of the wings is also pale brown, but with whitish line patterns. The hindwings each have a small tail, and two orange eye spots at the base. The head, thorax and abdomen are covered in pale blue hairs.
HOST PLANTS:
- Cycas (26 species) a native plant.
- Macrozamia (38 species)) a native plant.
GENERAL: The caterpillar of the Cycad Blue butterfly, is the only one that feeds on cycads. These caterpillars are attended by ants.
