Hypochrysops ignitus

Hypochrysops ignitus (Leach, 1814)
Fiery Jewel
(previously known as Lycaena ignita)
LUCIINI, THECLINAE, LYCAENIDAE, PAPILIONOIDEA

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

Hypochrysops ignitus
(Photo: courtesy of R.P.Field, Museums Victoria)

The eggs of this species are round, white and flattened, with a diameter of about 0.8 mm. They are laid in spring in groups at the base of the foodplant, typically by the nest of the small black ants :

Coconut Ant ( Papyrius nitidus, DOLICHODERINAE ).

If there is no ant nest already at the base of the plant where the eggs are laid, the ants actually come and build one.

The Caterpillars are fawn and velvety, with a broad dark dorsal band, and zig-zag black and yellow lines. By day the caterpillars shelter in the ant nest, and are shepherded by the ants to the new shoots in the evening, and back to the nest at dawn. The caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants, including:

Daphne Heath ( Brachyloma daphnoides, ERICACEAE ),

Dogwood ( Jacksonia scoparia, FABACEAE ),

Wattles ( Acacia, MIMOSACEAE ),

Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus species, MYRTACEAE ),

Red Ash ( Alphitonia excelsa, RHAMNACEAE ),

Blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus, ROSACEAE ),

Native Cherry ( Exocarpus cupressiformis, SANTALACEAE ),

Carrotwood ( Cupaniopsis anacardioides, SAPINDACEAE ), and

Camellia ( Camellia japonica, THEACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of R.P.Field, Museums Victoria)

The pupa is a mottled brown, and normally occurs inside the nest of the host ants. It has a length of about 1.3 cms.

male
(Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/BIO Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

The adult male and female butterflies look very similar. On top, they are basically dark brown, with a blue iridescent sheen. The females have more rounded wings. The butterflies have a wing span of about 3 cms.

female
(Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/BIO Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

Underneath: they have patterns like flames: yellow with scarlet bands outlined in black, white, and iridescent green. This is presumably the origin of their scientific name, derived from 'ignis', the Latin word for 'fire'. There are also three or four black spots under each forewing.

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

The eggs are white, and shaped like partly squashed spheres, with minute dimples and spikes. The eggs have a diameter of about 1.5 mm. They are laid singly on a leaf or stem of a foodplant.