Danis danis

Danis danis (Cramer, [1775])
(one synonym: Thysonotis reverdini)
Large Green-banded Blue
POLYOMMATINI , POLYOMMATINAE , LYCAENIDAE

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

(updated 13 May 2008)

Danis danis
Male
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

This Caterpillar is knobbly and orange with black spots along the sides. It feeds on :

Shell Vine ( Connarus conchocarpus, CONNARACEAE ),

Rourea brachtandrya ( CONNARACEAE ), and

Derris species (../plants/faba/fabaceae.html> FABACEAE ).

When not feeding, the Caterpillar usually rests on the underside of a leaf.

The pupa is cream with black spots, and has a length of about 1.5 cms. It is formed in the debris at the base of its foodplant.

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

The male and female adults are different. On top, the males are blue with a large white patch on each wing, and a black margin to each wing. The females are black with large white patches on each wing, and a metallic blue suffusion at the base of each wing.

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

Underneath, the sexes are similar. They are white with broad black margins. The wings have a metallic green arc in the black marginal band. The hindwings have a series of black spots in this green arc. The butterflies have a wing span of about 3 cms.

The eggs are white, round, flattened, and spiny. They are laid singly on low level foodplant shoots.

The species occurs as various subspecies from New Guinea to the Solomons and the Philippines, and in Queensland as two subspecies :

syrius in Cape York, and

serapis around Cairns.