Eirmocides helenita

Eirmocides helenita (Semper, [1879])
Shining Pencil-blue
(previously known as Candalides helenita)
CANDALIDINI, POLYOMMATINAE, LYCAENIDAE, PAPILIONOIDEA

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

(Photo: courtesy of Bart Hacobian, Millaa Millaa, Queensland)

This Caterpillar can be any colour from green to brown. It has serrated ridge along the back edged with red, ending with a scooped-out last segment. Typically: it tucks its head under its body.

(Photo: courtesy of Bart Hacobian, Millaa Millaa, Queensland)

The caterpillar has been found feeding on young foliage of various plants, including :

Pink Tamarind ( Arytera pauciflora, SAPINDACEAE ),

White Walnut ( Cryptocarya hypospodia, LAURACEAE ),

Cheese Tree ( Glochidion ferdinandi , PHYLLANTHACEAE ), and

Flame tree ( Brachychiton acerifolium, STERCULIACEAE ).

The pupa is brown and has flanges on the abdomen. It is usually formed in a curled leaf at the foot of a foodplant.

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

The male and female adults are different. The males are greenish-blue above, with a narrow black margin around each wing. The males also have a trident-shaped sex brand on each forewing. The females are dark brown above, with a big white patch on each wing.

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

Underneath, the sexes are similar : white with a few dark dots around the hindwing margins. The butterflies have a wing span of about 3 cms.

The eggs are rough, round, flattened, and white. They are laid singly on young shoots of a foodplant.

The species occurs in Australia in :

Queensland.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of the Australian Museum)