Jalmenus inous
Encyclopedia
The Inous Blue or Varied Hairstreak (Jalmenus inous) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae
family. It is endemic to coastal Western Australia
.
The wingspan
is about 30 mm.
The larvae feed on a various plants, including Gastrolobium microcarpum, Daviesia divaricata, Daviesia benthamii, Acacia rostellifera
and Acacia saligna
.
The Caterpillars are attended by the ant species Iridomyrmex conifer and Iridomyrmex rufoniger.
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
family. It is endemic to coastal Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is about 30 mm.
The larvae feed on a various plants, including Gastrolobium microcarpum, Daviesia divaricata, Daviesia benthamii, Acacia rostellifera
Acacia rostellifera
Acacia rostellifera, commonly known as summer-scented wattle or skunk tree is a coastal tree or small tree in the family Fabaceae...
and Acacia saligna
Acacia saligna
Acacia saligna, commonly known by various names including coojong, golden wreath wattle, orange wattle, blue-leafed wattle, Western Australian golden wattle, and, in Africa, Port Jackson willow, is a small tree in the family Fabaceae...
.
The Caterpillars are attended by the ant species Iridomyrmex conifer and Iridomyrmex rufoniger.
Subspecies
- Jalmenus inous bronwynae Johnson & Valentine, 2007 (coastal Western Australia)
- Jalmenus inous inous Hewitson, 1865 (south-west coast of Western Australia)
- Jalmenus inous notocrucifer Johnson, Hay & Bollam, 1992 (south-west coast of Western Australia)