Hypochrysops ignita

Hypochrysops ignita (Leach, 1814)
(one synonym: Hypochrysops ignitus)
Fiery Jewel
LUCIINI , THECLINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(Photo: courtesy of R.P.Field, Museum Victoria)

The eggs of this species are round, white and flattened, with a diameter of about 0.8 mm. They are laid in spring in groups at the base of the foodplant, typically by the nest of the small black ants :

Papyrius nitidus ( DOLICHODERINAE ).

If there is no ant nest already at the base of the plant where the eggs are laid, the ants actually come and build one.

The Caterpillars are fawn and velvety, with a broad dark dorsal band, and zig-zag black and yellow lines. By day the Caterpillars shelter in the ant nest, and are shepherded by the ants to the new shoots in the evening, and back to the nest at dawn. The Caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants, including:

Daphne Heath ( Brachyloma daphnoides, EPACRIDACEAE ),

Dogwood ( Jacksonia scoparia, FABACEAE ),

Wattles ( Acacia, MIMOSACEAE ),

Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus species, MYRTACEAE ),

Red Ash ( Alphitonia excelsa, RHAMNACEAE ),

Blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus, ROSACEAE ),

Native Cherry ( Exocarpus cupressiformis, SANTALACEAE ),

Carrotwood ( Cupaniopsis anacardioides, SAPINDACEAE ),

Hop-Bush ( Dodonaea triquetra, SAPINDACEAE ), and

Camellia ( Camellia japonica, THEACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of R.P.Field, Museum Victoria)

The pupa is a mottled brown, and normally occurs inside the nest of the host ants. It has a length of about 1.3 cms.

Male
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The adult male and female butterflies look very similar. On top, they are basically dark brown, with a blue iridescent sheen.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

Underneath: they have patterns like flames: yellow with scarlet bands outlined in black, white, and iridescent green. This is presumably the origin of their scientific name, derived from 'ignis', the Latin word for 'fire'. There are also three or four black spots under each forewing.

The butterflies have a wing span of about 3 cms.

The species occurs as a number of races in New Guinea and around much of the coast of Australia, including Victoria, and South Australia :

olliffi in the south of Western Australia,

erythrina in the north of Western Australia and the Northern Territory,

chrysonotus in northern Queensland, and

ignita in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.