Ogyris iphis

Ogyris iphis Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914
Orange-tipped Azure
ARHOPALINI, THECLINAE, LYCAENIDAE, PAPILIONOIDEA

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

Ogyris iphis
(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

These Caterpillars are brown with dark bands along the body, and diagonal cream lines on each side of the top of each segment. The caterpillars feed on Mistletoe (LORANTHACEAE), including :

Gum Mistletoe ( Amyema bifurcata ),

Box Mistletoe ( Amyena miquelii ),

Grey Mistletoe ( Amyena quandang ),

Long Flowered Mistletoe ( Dendrophthoe vitellina ), and

Bald Mistletoe ( Dendrophthoe glabrescens ).

(Photo: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The caterpillars feed nocturnally, hiding by day under loose bark They are attended by the small dark brown ants :

Common Froglet Ant ( Froggatella kirbyi, DOLICHODERINAE).

(Photos: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The pupa is brown with dark markings. It has a length of about 1.5 cms. It is formed under loose bark or a similar spot. It is unusual in that it sometimes makes clicking sounds.

female
(Photos: courtesy of The Insect Company)

The butterflies are pale metallic blue on the upper surfaces with a narrow black edge to the costa and margin of each forewing. The female has an orange mark in each black forewing apex. The hindwings have a short broad tail. Underneath, the wings are brown with black markings edged in metallic green. The butterflies have a wingspan of about 3 cms.