''Hypochrysops delicia'', the moonlight jewel, is a member of the family
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae is the second-largest family of butterflies (behind Nymphalidae, brush-footed butterflies), with over 6,000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of the known butterfl ...
. It is found in
eastern Australia
The eastern states of Australia are the states adjoining the east continental coastline of Australia. These are the mainland states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, and the island state of Tasmania. The Australian Capital Territory ...
.
The
wingspan
The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777–200 has a wingspan of , and a wandering albatross (''Diomedea exulans'') caught in 1965 had a wingspan of ...
is about 40 mm.
The larvae feed on ''
Acacia
''Acacia'', commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa and Australasia. The genus na ...
'' species, including ''
A. binervia'', ''
A. dealbata'', ''
A. flavescens'', ''
A. implexa'', ''
A. irrorata'', ''
A. leiocalyx'', ''
A. mearnsii'', ''
A. melanoxylon'', ''
A. parramattensis'', ''
A. pycnantha'' and ''
A. spectabilis''. It is usually attended by ''
Crematogaster
''Crematogaster'' is an ecologically diverse genus of ants found worldwide, which are characterised by a distinctive heart-shaped gaster (abdomen), which gives them one of their common names, the Saint Valentine ant. Members of this genus are a ...
'' species.
Subspecies
*''H. d. delicia'' -
Hewitson, 1875 (southern
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
to central
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
)
*''H. d. delos'' -
Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914 (southern New South Wales to
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
)
*''H. d. duaringae'' -
Waterhouse, 1903 (central Queensland)
*''H. d. regina'' -
Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1895 (Moluccas)
References
Luciini
Butterflies described in 1875
Butterflies of Australia
Taxa named by William Chapman Hewitson
{{Theclinae-stub