Liphyra brassolis

Liphyra brassolis Westwood, 1864
(also known as: Sterosis brassolis)
Moth Butterfly
LIPHYRINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

male and female upper surfaces
(Photo: courtesy of Yusuke Takanami & Yasuo Seki)

This Caterpillar is rusty brown, flat, and leathery, with a cream coloured head. It lives within the nest of the green ants :

Citrus Ants ( Oecophylla smaragdina, FORMICINAE ),

feeding on ant larvae. The tough skin of the Caterpillar apparently protects it from the ants.

It pupates in the ant nest. The pupa is formed within the last larval skin, which apparently protects it from attack by the ants. Its length is about 3 cms.

male and female undersides
(Photo: courtesy of Yusuke Takanami & Yasuo Seki)

The adult butterfly, when it emerges from its pupa, is covered in a grey powder, which apparently makes it difficult for the ants to attack it. The butterflies are somewhat variable in coloration, being either brown with orange patches, or orange with brown patches. The underside is similar to the top only more washed out. The wingspan is about 7 cms.

The eggs are laid singly or in small groups up to to six, on the underside of branches of a tree that has an appropriate ants nest. The eggs are tiny pale green flat cylinders, with a height of about 1 mm.

The species occurs as various races from India to the south Pacific, including

Philippines, and

Thailand.
The subspecies major occurs around the tropical coast of Australia, including:

Western Australia,

the Northern Territory, and

Queensland.