Prosotas dubiosa

Prosotas dubiosa (Semper, [1879])
Small Purple Line Blue
(previously known as Lampides dubiosa)
POLYOMMATINI, POLYOMMATINAE, LYCAENIDAE, PAPILIONOIDEA

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

Prosotas dubiosa
(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island, Queensland)

This is a humpbacked Caterpillar. It is coloured yellow with brown speckles. It has been found feeding on the flowers and buds of various Australian native plants, including :

Tossa Jute ( Cajanus reticulatus, FABACEAE ),

Indian Rosewood ( Dalbergia sissoo, FABACEAE ),

Laceflower Tree ( Archidendron grandiflorum, MIMOSACEAE ),

Earleaf Wattle ( Acacia auriculiformis, MIMOSACEAE ),

Clubleaf Wattle ( Acacia hemignosta, MIMOSACEAE ),

Black Wattle ( Acacia leiocalyx, MIMOSACEAE ),

Sally Wattle ( Acacia mangium, MIMOSACEAE ),

Polystacha WattleAcacia polystachya, MIMOSACEAE ),

Bramble Wattle ( Acacia victoriae, MIMOSACEAE ),

Macadamia Nut ( Macadamia integrifolia, PROTEACEAE ),

Woolly Rambutan ( Alectryon tomentosus, SAPINDACEAE ),

Tulipwood ( Harpullia pendula, SAPINDACEAE ),

and of the introduced plants :

Siris ( Albizia lebbeck, MIMOSACEAE ),

Wild Tamarind ( Leucaena leucocephala, MIMOSACEAE ), and

Lichee ( Litchi chinensis, SAPINDACEAE ).

pupa
(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island, Queensland)

The pupa is pale brown with dark brown speckles.

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

The males and female adult butterflies are both brown on top with a purple sheen, and have an obscure black spot near the tornus of each hind wing. Underneath, both sexes are fawn with multiple arcs of white dashes. Each hind wing has a black spot under the tornus. The butterflies have a wing span of about 2 cms.