Neolucia mathewi (Miskin, 1890)
(one synonym : Lycaena sylvicola)
Mathew's Blue
 POLYOMMATINI ,   POLYOMMATINAE ,   LYCAENIDAE

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

Neolucia mathewi
(Photo: courtesy of Martin Purvis)

This Caterpillar is dark greenish brown, usually with a pale-edged dark dorsal line, and a pale brown head. It has been found feeding on the young shoots and flower buds of :

  • Red Pidgeon Berry ( Monotoca elliptica, EPACRIDACEAE ),
  • Mountain Broom-heath ( Monotoca oreophila, EPACRIDACEAE ), and
  • Pultenaea daphnoides ( FABACEAE ).

    Neolucia mathewi
    female
    (Photo: courtesy of Museum Victoria)

    The adults are brown on top with narrow chequered margins. Underneath, the wings are pale brown, with arcs of darker brown spots. The butterflies have a wing span up to 2 cms.

    Neolucia mathewi
    male
    (Photo: courtesy of Museum Victoria)

    The eggs are white and laid singly in the leaf axils of a foodplant.

    The species has been found from Sydney in New South Wales, through Victoria, to Tasmania.

    Further reading :

    Michael F. Braby,
    Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 2, pp. 821-822.

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    (update 30 July 2009)