methyst Hairstreak, showing upper side. Harcourt, 2022.
Photo: Mez Woodward.
Amethyst Hairstreak, showing underside. Harcourt, 2022.
Photo: Mez Woodward.
Scientific Name: Jalmenus icilius
Other Common Names: Icilius Blue
Family of Butterflies: Lycaenidae (Blues and Coppers)
Wingspan: 26mm males, 29mm females.
Local observations: This species has been recorded from near Harcourt in 2022. Prior to this there were no local records on Atlas of Living Australia or iNaturalist. Tony Morton’s recorded this species near Sutton Grange and at Axe Creek, just outside our region.
| Tony Morton’s records of Amethyst Hairstreak from the local area (between 2000 to 2013) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Location | Notes |
| 7-Nov-2011 | Axe Creek, Dragonfire Castle | a few larvae |
| 20-Nov-2009 | Axe Creek | 1.30 p.m. 38ºC pupa |
| 11-Nov-2009 | Axe Creek | 1.30 p.m. 34ºC Larva |
| 5-Dec-2004 | nr. Sutton Grange | On small Acacia dealbata & A.mearnsii on road from Axe Ck picnic ground by vineyard towards Pilcher’s Bridge with leafhoppers LPI P emerge until 18 Dec |
| 17 & 30 Nov 2002 | Black Eagle picnic ground, junc. Sutton Grange to Bendigo and Axe Ck. roads (Road to Pilchers Bridge). | Very few on one only A. mearnsii. one adult seen flying briefly, 2 pupae one pupating larva taken. One large larva seen and left. |
| 17-Nov-2002 | Sutton Grange | 2 pupae and a few larvae found on A. mearnsii at Axe Creek reserve |
Distribution outside our region: There are scattered records from around greater Melbourne and in the vicinity of the Grampians. Outside Victoria this species has been recorded from all mainland states with the greatest concentration of records around Canberra. ref: iNaturalist and Atlas of Living Australia.
Larval Host Plants: Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), Blackwood (A. melanoxylon), other wattles (A. dealbata, A. mearnsii) and Silver Cassia (Senna artemisiodes).
Larval association with ants: Iridomyrmex spp.
Right: Ants attending a caterpillar.
Photo: Mez Woodward
Eggs.
Photo: Euan Moore.
Caterpillar.
Photo: Mez Woodward.
Caterpillar forming a pupa.
Photo: Mez Woodward.
Adult Flight Times in Victoria: Most observations in Victoria between November to January, but with some from September to March.
Conservation Status:
- The Action plan for Australian Butterflies: No Conservation Significance
Other Notes: Probably rare and restricted in the Mount Alexander Shire. The local area is at the edge of
the Amethyst Hairstreak’s distribution.
References and further reading:
Atlas of Living Australia – Jalmenus icilius, Amethyst Hairstreak.
iNaturalist – Jalmenus icilius, Amethyst Hairstreak.
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