Jalmenus daemeli

Jalmenus daemeli Semper, [1879]
(erroneously: Ialmenus dameli)
Daemel's Blue
ZESIINI , THECLINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 25 June 2005)

Jalmenus daemeli

This Caterpillar is initially green with a black pattern, but later turns brown with a white pattern. The head is black, and there are raised areas on the first and last segments. The Caterpillar is attended by the black ants :

Iridomyrmex rufoniger ( DOLICHODERINAE ).

We have found it in Bundaberg feeding on the foliage of

Black Wattle ( Acacia leiocalyx, MIMOSACEAE ).

but it may be found on almost any species of:

Wattle ( Acacia, MIMOSACEAE ), as well as

Silver-leaved Ironbark ( Eucalyptus melanophloia, MYRTACEAE ), and

Bullock Bush ( Heterodendrum diversifolium, SAPINDACEAE ).

The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 1 cm.

It pupates under a leaf of the food plant, the pupa being initially green with brown markings, and later brown. The pupa also attracts the same ants. The pupa also had a length of about 1 cm.

The adult has metallic blue wing upper surfaces, with two eye-spots by a little tail on each hind wing, and a short black bar on each forewing.

The under-surface has a pattern of fawn and brown, and also has a pair of eye-spots by the tail on each hind wing. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 cms.

The eggs are laid in small clusters on a branch of a young plant. The eggs are white round and flattened, with a diameter of about 0.6 mm.

The species is found mainly in the coastal areas of southern Queensland.