Prosotas dubiosa

Prosotas dubiosa (Semper, [1879])
(one synonym : Lycaena mackayensis)
Small Purple Line Blue
POLYOMMATINI , POLYOMMATINAE , LYCAENIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

Prosotas dubiosa
(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island)

This is a humpbacked Caterpillar. It is coloured yellow with brown speckles. It has been found feeding on the flowers and buds of the Australian native plants, including :

Cajanus reticulatus ( FABACEAE ),

Indian Rosewood ( Dalbergia sissoo, FABACEAE ),

Laceflower Tree ( Archidendron grandiflorum, MIMOSACEAE ),

Earleaf Wattle ( Acacia auriculiformis, MIMOSACEAE ),

Clubleaf Wattle ( Acacia hemignosta, MIMOSACEAE ),

Black Wattle ( Acacia leiocalyx, MIMOSACEAE ),

Maiden's Wattle ( Acacia maidenii, MIMOSACEAE ),

Sally Wattle ( Acacia mangium, MIMOSACEAE ),

Acacia polystachya ( MIMOSACEAE ),

Bramble Wattle ( Acacia victoriae, MIMOSACEAE ),

Macadamia Nut ( Macadamia integrifolia, PROTEACEAE ),

Woolly Rambutan ( Alectryon tomentosus, SAPINDACEAE ),

Tulipwood ( Harpullia pendula, SAPINDACEAE ),

and of the introduced plants :

Siris ( Albizia lebbeck, MIMOSACEAE ),

Wild Tamarind ( Leucaena leucocephala, MIMOSACEAE ), and

Lichee ( Litchi chinensis, SAPINDACEAE ).

pupa
(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island)

The pupa is pale brown with dark brown speckles.

male and female upper surfaces
(Photo: courtesy of Yusuke Takanami & Yasuo Seki)

The males and female adult butterflies are both brown on top with a purple sheen, and have an obscure black spot near the tornus of each hind wing. Underneath, both sexes are fawn with multiple arcs of white dashes. Each hind wing has a black spot under the tornus. The butterflies have a wing span of about 2 cms.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Nick Monaghan, Noosa)

The species occurs as several races throughout south-east Asia, from

India, and

Philippines,
and also in Australia in

the north of Western Australia,

the Northern Territory,

Queensland, and

South Australia.

(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island)