Hypolycaena danis

Hypolycaena danis
H. d. turneri
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Hypolycaena
Species:	H. danis
Binomial name
Hypolycaena danis (C. & R. Felder, [1865])
Synonyms
Myrina danis C. & R. Felder, [1865] Pseudonotis turneri Waterhouse, 1903 Hypolycaena danisoides de Nicéville, 1897

Hypolycaena danis, the black and white tit or orchid flash, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the Maluku Province in Indonesia as well as the New Guinea region and north-eastern Australia.[1]

The wingspan is about 30 mm. The hindwings have blue edges with black spots and two tails. The underside of the wings is similar, but the pale areas are yellowish.[2]

The larvae feed on Vanda species and Dendrobium bigibbum,[3] Dendrobium canaliculatum, Cattleya, Renanthera, Phalaenopsis and Phalaenanthe species.

Pupation takes place in an off-white pupa, which is attached to the stem of the host plant.

Subspecies

• H. d. danis (Bachan, Halmahera, Morotai)
• H. d. danisoides de Nicéville, 1897 (Kai Islands)
• H. d. deripha Hewitson, 1878 (Aru, New Guinea, Louisade Archipelago)
• H. d. milo Grose-Smith (New Britain)
• H. d. turneri (Waterhouse, 1903) (Cape York to Cairns)

Gallery

• 
  H. d. danis male
• 
  H. d. danis female
• 
  H. d. danisoides male
• 
  H. d. danisoides female
• 
  H. d. derpiha male
• 
  H. d. derpiha female

References

1. On Hypolycaena from Maluku, Indonesia, including the first description of male Hypolycaena asahi (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae)
2. "Australian Insects". Archived from the original on 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
3. Hypolycaena at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms