Silky Hairstreak
Encyclopedia
The Silky Hairstreak also known as the Chlorinda Hairstreak is a butterfly
belonging to the family Lycaenidae
. It occurs in Australia
.
in 1848. Subspecies include:
The caterpillars grow to a length of around 3 cm. They have a black head and a brown, red, black and yellow body. The larvae of the Silky Hairstreak secrete substances that attract Anonychomyrma biconvexa ants.
including New South Wales
, Victoria
and Tasmania
. The species only occurs where the attendant ant species is found, and the larval food plant grows.
The caterpillars feed on various Acacia
species including the Silver Wattle
, Acacia decurrens
, Acacia elata
, Acacia mearnsii, Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia obtusata, Acacia pravissima
, Acacia terminalis
and the Acacia trachyphloia
.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
belonging to the family Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
. It occurs in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Taxonomy
The Silky Hairstreak was first described by Emile BlanchardÉmile Blanchard
Charles Émile Blanchard was a French zoologist and entomologist.Blanchard was born in Paris. His father was an artist and naturalist and Émile began natural history very early in life. When he was 14 years old, Jean Victoire Audouin , allowed him access to the laboratory of the Muséum national...
in 1848. Subspecies include:
- P. c. chlorinda is found in TasmaniaTasmaniaTasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. - P. c. myrsilus is found in a restricted area of south-east TasmaniaTasmaniaTasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. It is classified as rare under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. - P. c. zephyrus is found in Eastern Victoria
- P. c. fisheri is found in the Grampians National ParkGrampians National ParkThe Grampians National Park is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 235 kilometres west of Melbourne. The Park was listed on the Australian National Heritage List on 15 December 2006 for its outstanding natural beauty and being one of the richest indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern...
, Victoria - P. c. chloris is found around Katoomba and Mittagong, New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
- P. c. barringtonensis is found in the area of Barrington Tops, New South Wales
Description
The adult Silky Hairstreak has a wingspan of 28mm. The male and female are similar, with the wings of the female slightly more rounded. The wings are black or brown on top with yellow-orange patches. The lower wings have orange patches and black tails with white edges. The underside of the wings is yellow-grey in colour with black and orange markings. The eggs are pale green with a diameter about 1mm. They are usually laid in small groups on the twigs of a food plant.The caterpillars grow to a length of around 3 cm. They have a black head and a brown, red, black and yellow body. The larvae of the Silky Hairstreak secrete substances that attract Anonychomyrma biconvexa ants.
Distribution and habitat
It is found in South Eastern AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
including New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. The species only occurs where the attendant ant species is found, and the larval food plant grows.
The caterpillars feed on various Acacia
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
species including the Silver Wattle
Silver wattle
Silver wattle is the common name of two plant species:* Acacia sclerosperma* Acacia dealbata...
, Acacia decurrens
Acacia decurrens
Acacia decurrens is a perennial tree or shrub native to eastern New South Wales...
, Acacia elata
Acacia elata
Acacia elata the Cedar Wattle or Mountain Cedar Wattle is a tree found in eastern Australia. Often up to 18 metres tall when mature, exceptional specimens reach over 30 metres. The habitat is near rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest in various situations. An attractive plant with delicate...
, Acacia mearnsii, Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia obtusata, Acacia pravissima
Acacia pravissima
Acacia pravissima, commonly known as Ovens Wattle or Wedge-leaved Wattle, is a species of plant in the Fabaceae family found in Australia which grows in Victoria and in the South West Slopes and Southern Tablelands of New South Wales....
, Acacia terminalis
Acacia terminalis
Acacia terminalis is a shrub or small tree to 6 m in height. It's an Australian native whose range extends through New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania....
and the Acacia trachyphloia
Acacia trachyphloia
Acacia trachyphloia is a tree native to south eastern Australia. Common names include Bodalla Wattle and Golden Feather Wattle. The specific epithet trachyphloia refers to the rough bark....
.