Deudorix epirus

Deudorix epirus (C. Felder, 1860)
(previously known as : Myrina epirus)
Epirus Blue
DEUDORIGINI , THECLINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

Deudorix epirus
early instar
(Photo: courtesy of Mark Hopkinson)

These caterpillars are initially pale brown.

later instar
(Photo: courtesy of Mark Hopkinson)

Later they become white with a black dorsolateral stripe on each side, and black spots along the back. The head is brown, and the prothorax yellow.

later instar
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The caterpillars feed inside the seeds of plants like :

Australian Olive ( Harpullia ramiflora, SAPINDACEAE ).

pupa inside seed coating
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

Pupation occurs inside the case of the seed inside which it was feeding.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The adult male butterflies of this species have black forewing upper surfaces with a large blue patch on the inner margin, and blue hindwings.

female
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The females above are similar to the males but with a white patch on each forewing.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

Underneath, both sexes are cream, with a brown margin, and a brown bar across the middle of each wing. The hindwings each have one narrow tail and one broad one. The broad tails have an orange spot on their upper surfaces and a black spot underneath. The butterflies have a wingspan of about 3 cms.

The subspecies agimar is found in north Queensland. Other subspecies are found in Indonesia and New Guinea.