Philiris innotatus

Philiris innotatus (Miskin, 1874)
(one synonym: Pseudodipsas evincalis)
Common Moonbeam
LUCIINI , THECLINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

Philiris innotatus
(Specimen: courtesy of Helen Schwencke)

This Caterpillar comes from an egg that is white, round, flattened, and deeply pitted, with short spines. The eggs have a diameter of about 0.6 mm. They are laid singly on the underside of leaves of foodplants.

(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The Caterpillar itself is green with a pale yellow dorsal line. It is hairy, rather like the stems and leaves of its foodplants. It feeds on:

Banyan ( Ficus benghalensis ),

Common Fig ( Ficus carica ),

Red-leaf Fig ( Ficus congesta ),

Sandpaper Fig ( Ficus coronata ), and

Rough Leaved Fig ( Ficus opposita ).

all of MORACEAE . The Caterpillar feeds on the underside of a leaf, leaving the upper surface intact. This turns white in due course, which can be a handy guide to locating the Caterpillars. The Caterpillars are sometimes attended by ants of various species.

(Photos: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The pupa is green with brown patches. It is attached to the underside of a foodplant leaf. The pupa has a length of about 1 cm.

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

On top: the female adult butterflies are iridescent blue with a wide black border around each wing.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The male butterflies are purple with narrower black borders than the females.

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

Underneath: they are a silky grey, with a number of small black spots on each hindwing: three along the tornus, and one on the inner margin.

male, underside
(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The species occurs in the New Guinea, and the Northern Territory, Queensland, and New South Wales in Australia,

(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)