Satin Azure, male, underside of wings.
Photo: Euan Moore
Satin Azure, female, underside of wings. The female has the red markings on the forewing.
Photo: Euan Moore
Scientific Name: Ogyris amaryllis subsp. meridionalis
Other Common Names: Amaryllis Azure
Family of Butterflies: Lycaenidae (Blues and Coppers)
Wingspan: 34mm
Museum specimens.
Photo: Tony Morton
Note 1: The males occur on the top left, and bottom row and the female occurs on the top right. The
upper side of the butterfly wings are shown on the top row and bottom left and the underside side of
the male butterfly wings are shown on the bottom right.
Note 2: The plant name refers to the plant family upon which the butterfly larvae (caterpillars) feed.
Local Observations: There are recent local observations of this species from near Castlemaine on Atlas of Living Australia and iNaturalist. Tony Morton regularly recorded this species from Kalimna Park in Castlemaine.
| Tony Morton’s records of Satin Azure from the local area (2000 to 2013) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Location | Notes |
| 16-Feb-2013 | Vaughan drive | female on A preissei on Cootamundra |
| 1-Jan-2013 | Kalimna Park, Castlemaine, Vic. | one female |
| 11-Nov-2009 | Kalimna Park, Castlemaine, Vic. | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 34ºC |
| 7-Nov-2009 | Vaughan walk | midday 30ºC |
| 11-Nov-2007 | Vaughan walk | |
| 1-Nov-2006 | Ridge, Kalimna Park | |
| 3-Dec-2004 | Vaughan | on bottlebrush outside study window |
| 16-Nov-2004 | Kalimna Park, Castlemaine, Vic. | |
| 26-Nov-2003 | Kalimna Park, Castlemaine, Vic. | |
| 7-Nov-2003 | Kalimna Park, Castlemaine, Vic. | |
| 17-Nov-2002 | Ridge, Kalimna Park | fresh, mainly male, common after c.1530 |
| 17-Nov-2002 | Kalimna Park, Castlemaine, Vic. | Common round red bottlebrush (Hakea?) |
| 3-Dec-2000 | Bluff, Central Springs, Vaughan | |
| 25-Nov-2000 | Ridge, Kalimna Park | fresh, male |
| 14-Nov-2000 | Ridge, Kalimna Park | |
| 8-Nov-2000 | Ridge, Kalimna Park | |
| 12-Oct-2000 | Ridge, Kalimna Park | |
| 29-Feb-2000 | Vaughan walk | |
Distribution outside our region: Most documented Victorian observations of this species are from the western half of the state. ref: iNaturalist, Atlas of Living Australia. This species has been recorded from all mainland states.
Larval Host Plants: Mistletoes (Amyema spp.)
Larval association with ants: Larvae often associated with ants from the genera of Anonychomyrma, Iridomyrmex and Crematogaster.
Adult Flight Times in Victoria: In Victoria, there is probably a single annual life cycle, with most adults being documented in late spring (October to December). Individuals have been seen in flight from August to April, with the autumn adults possibly representing a small second annual brood.
Conservation Status:
- The Action plan for Australian Butterflies: No Conservation Significance
Other Notes: Probably uncommon in Mount Alexander Shire, although may be locally common where
mistletoe is abundant.
Known to be a hill-topping species.
References and further reading:
Atlas of Living Australia – Ogyris amaryllis, Satin Azure
iNaturalist – Ogyris amaryllis, Satin Azure
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