Moonlight Jewel showing part of upper surface of wing.
Photo: Euan Moore
Moonlight Jewel showing lower surface of wing.
Photo: G Pellas/iNaturalist
Scientific Name: Hypochrysops delicia subsp. delicia
Other Common Names: Blue Jewel, Moonlight Blue
Family of Butterflies: Lycaenidae (Blues and Coppers)
Wingspan: 32mm male, 35mm female.
Local records: There are a few recent records from our region on iNaturalist and on Atlas of Living Australia.
| Tony Morton’s records of Moonlight Jewel from the local area (between 2000 to 2013) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Location | Notes |
| 11/12/2005 | Kalimna Park | c.1pm. goodish male on red Grevillea (Hakea?) at amaryllis spot. |
Distribution outside our region: This is a relatively uncommon species across its range. Most Victorian records are from the Melbourne area and ranges to the east. Outside Victoria this species has been recorded from eastern NSW and South-eastern Queensland. iNaturalist and on Atlas of Living Australia.
Larval Host Plants: Many wattles, including Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata), Black Wattle (A. mearnsii)
and Blackwood (A. melanoxylon).
Larval association with ants: Crematogaster spp.
Adult Flight Times in Victoria: In Victoria, there is a peak in observations around November and January,
but adults have been recorded from October to April.
Conservation Status:
- The Action plan for Australian Butterflies: No Conservation Significance
- Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 – Threatened List: Not Listed
Other Notes: Adults are strong hilltoppers, and typically fly in the afternoon just below canopy height (Field 2013). They can be difficult to observe as they are usually quite high in the trees. Eggs are laid in borer holes of older wattle trees, which are occupied by Crematogaster ants.
Based on the maps provided by Field (2013), the local records of this species from our area are a slight range extension. This species probably has a restricted occurrence in the local area, and most likely around wattles that have been left to mature and senesce.
References and further reading:
Atlas of Living Australia –Hypochrysops delica, Moolight Jewel.
iNaturalist – Hypochrysops delica, Moolight Jewel.
Braby, Michael F., Second edition 2016. The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing.
Field, Ross P., 2013. Butterflies: Identification and Life History. Museum Victoria.