- The butterflies in this subfamily have the antenna club more or less flattened. They are from small to medium size.
- POLYOMMATINI caterpillar
- The butterflies in this tribe are from small to medium size. Most of them have metallic colours, either blue or orange-brown in colour. A number of species have one or two "tails" on the hindwings, usually combined with eye-spots. While at rest, they have a habit of rubbing their hindwings together to deceive predators.
- The caterpillars are small to medium size. Their head is usually held under the body, which is flattened and broad. Most species have dense short hairs. Some species their caterpillars secrete a substance which attracts ants.
- Psychonotis caelius wingspan 35mmm, Female Male Female
- We easily found a number of them in Brisbane bushlands in late summer. The underside of its wings is metallic greenish-blue in colour, shiny bright under the sun light. The Small Green-banded Blue caterpillar is pale white in colour and feed on Pink Ash and Red Ash Alphitonia sp.. More information and pictures please click here.
- Nacaduba kurava, wingspan 25mm
- We took the picture in the small forest in Eight Mile plains along Bulimba Creek in mid-summer. The butterfly slowly flied away after we took the picture. The bottom sides of its wings are mostly pale grey in colour with extensive white patch. There are the eye-spots and small thin tails on edges of its hind wings. Please also check this page for more information.
- Prosotas felderi, wingspan 20mm
- This is a small Line-blue butterfly. It has a short tail on each hind-wing with "1.5" eye-spot. It has the wings more pointed than other blues. They are sometimes found in open eucalypt forests in Brisbane. Please check this page for more information.
- Prosotas dubiosa, wingspan 20mm Female
- In later summer March 2008, we found blue butterflies laying eggs on Wattle Acacia in Mt Coot-tha. There were quite a number of them there. Please check this page for more information.
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- Catopyrops florinda, wingspan 25mm, male Female Female
- The photo was taken in Eight Mile Plains along Bulimba Creek in mid-summer. On the top side the butterfly wings was in 'standard blue' colour with two eye spots on each hide wing. On the bottom side was the white and pale brown patterns and the two eye spots on the same positions. Between the two eye spots there were the shore thin tails. Later we found that they are common in Brisbane Forest near Bellbird Grove during late summer. More pictures and information please found in this page.
- The butterflies are pale brown in colour with metallic blue or purple sheen. There are the eye patterns of orange and black on the margin of hindwings, each has a little tail attached. It is unique that it is the only Australian butterfly Caterpillar that feeds on Cycads. There are more information and pictures on this page.
- Above pictures were taken on the hilltop of Karawatha Forest on May 2010. The butterfly has two eye-spots and a tail on each hind wing. Please also visit this page for more information on this butterfly.
- Leptotes plinius (was Syntarucus plinius), wingspan 25mm, female and male Caterpillar 10mm
- This small butterfly is blue in colour in the top with zebra pattern on the bottom. Zebra Blue Butterflies are also called Plumbago Blue as their caterpillars feed on the buds and flowers of White Leadwort, Plumbago zeylanica. They are common in Brisbane. More information and pictures please visit the Zebra Blue page.
- Long-tailed Pea-blue
- Lampides boeticus, wingspan 30mm
- The Long-tailed Pea-blue has a broad white band on the hind wing underside. The butterflies have a rapid jerky flight. They can be seen near host plants. While at rest, they have a habit of rubbing their hindwings together. Please check this page for more information.
- Common Grass Blue
- Zizina labradus, wingspan 20mm
- They are small butterflies and common in Brisbane. We easily find them flying close to the ground, on grass and low vegetations. They are purplish blue on the wings top and with black bodies. Their wings bottom are pink to reddish white with many pale dots. The caterpillars feed on Clover. More pictures and information and pictures please click on here.
- Reference:
- 1. Insects
of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University
Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 899.
- 2. The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia - Michael F Braby, Australian National University, CSIRO 2004.
- 2. The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia - Michael F Braby, Australian National University, CSIRO 2004.
Tribe POLYOMMATINI
POLYOMMATINAE, LYCAENIDAE
