Silky hairstreak
| Silky Hairstreak | |
|---|---|
| File:Unidentified Butterfly 6566.jpg | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Species: | P. chlorinda
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| Binomial name | |
| Pseudalmenus chlorinda | |
The Silky Hairstreak (Pseudalmenus chlorinda) also known as the Chlorinda Hairstreak is a butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae.
Taxonomy
The Silky Hairstreak was first described by Blanchard in 1848. Subspecies include[2]:
- P. c. chlorinda is found in Tasmania. It is classified as rare under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.[3][2]
- P. c. zephyrus is found in Eastern Victoria[2]
- P. c. fisheri is found in the Grampians National Park, Victoria[2]
- P. c. chloris is found around Katoomba and Mittagong, New South Wales[2]
- P. c. barringtonensis is found in the area of Barrington Tops, New South Wales[2]
Description
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The male and female are similar, with the wings of the female slightly more rounded.[1]
The wings are black or brown on top with yellow-orange patches. The lower wings have orange patches and black tails with white edges. The underside of the wings is yellow-grey in colour with black and orange markings.
The eggs are pale green with a diameter about 1mm.[1] They are usually laid in small groups on the twigs of a food plant. [1]
The caterpillars grow to a length of around 3cm. They have a black head and a brown, red, black and yellow body. [1] The larvae of the Silky Hairstreak secrete substances that attract the ant Anonychomyrma biconvexa[4][5]
The adult Silky Hairstreak has a wingspan of 28mm.[6]
Distribution and habitat
It is found in South Eastern Australia including New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. [7]
The caterpillars feed on various Acacia species including the Silver Wattle, Acacia decurrens, Acacia elata, Acacia mearnsii, Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia obtusata, Acacia pravissima, Acacia terminalis and the Acacia trachyphloia.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Pseudalmenus chlorinda". Australian-Insects. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Pseudalmenus chlorinda". www.funet.fi. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
- ^ "Threatened Fauna Manual for Production Forests in Tasmania - Tasmanian Hairstreak Butterfly" (PDF). Retrieved 20 December 2009.
- ^ "Species Pseudalmenus chlorinda". Australian Biological Resources Study. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
- ^ "Lycaenid butterflies and ants". Australian Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
- ^ "Victorian (Silky) Hairstreak Butterfly". Museum Victoria. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
- ^ Kitching, Roger (1999). Roger Laurence Kitching (ed.). Biology of Australian butterflies. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0643050272, 9780643050273.
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External Links
