Erina acasta

Erina acasta (Cox, 1873)
Blotched Blue
(formerly known as Candalides acasta)
CANDALIDINI, POLYOMMATINAE, LYCAENIDAE, PAPILIONOIDEA

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

Erina acasta
female
(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island, Queensland)

This Caterpillar is green with yellow lines. It feeds nocturnally inside the flower buds of various species of Dodder Laurel (Cassytha, LAURACEAE), including :

Common Dodder Laurel ( Cassytha filiformis ),

Slender Dodder Laurel ( Cassytha glabella ),

Streaked Dodder Laurel ( Cassytha peninsularis ), and

Downy Dodder Laurel ( Cassytha pubescens ).

The pupa is narrow and brown with a few black spots. The abdomen has a pair of lateral flanges. The pupa is attached typically to a host plant near the ground by anal hooks and girdle.

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

The male and female adults are similar: brown on top with a blue sheen. Underneath, they are fawn with brown shading and rows of dark dashes. The butterflies have a wing span of about 2 cms.

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

The eggs are pale green flatteed spheres, with a sparse white polygonal network on the surface. The eggs have a diameter of about 0.7 mm. They are usually laid singly on flower buds of a foodplant.