Ionolyce helicon

Ionolyce helicon (C. Felder, 1860)
Bronze Lineblue
(previously known as Nacaduba helicon)
POLYOMMATINI , POLYOMMATINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

Ionolyce helicon
(Photo: copyright Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

These caterpillars are green with pale green markings, and have a set of brown chevrons along the back.

(Photo: copyright Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The caterpillars have been found feeding on :

the flower buds of Allophylus cobbe, ( SAPINDACEAE ), and

Matchbox bean ( Entada phaseoloides, MIMOSACEAE ).

(Photo: copyright Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

In captivity the larvae moved to the bottom of the container and pupated on the leaf litter. The pupae are mottled brown, with a row of dark markings along the back.

(Photos: copyright Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The male adult butterflies of this species on top are bronze-coloured with a purple sheen, and have a black spot by a tail at the tornus of each hindwing.

Female
(Photo: copyright Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The females on top are dark brown with a pale mauve sheen, and have a marginal arc of white carets around each hindwing. Underneath, both sexes are fawn with arcs of white markings, and have a black spot by each hindwing tail.

egg
(Photo: copyright Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The eggs are laid singly. They are like white spheres with the top pushed in, and covered in tiny short spikes.

The species is found in south-east Asia, including

and the subspecies hyllus is found on the

Cape York Peninsula in Australia.