Kingdom Animalia Family Lycaenidae Scientific name Jalmenus icilius Rank Subspecies | Class Insecta Genus Jalmenus Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | |
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Similar Jalmenus, Theclinesthes miskini, Candalides heathi, Jalmenus inous, Nacaduba biocellata | ||
Jalmenus icilius
Jalmenus icilius, the Icilius blue or amethyst hairstreak, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in all mainland states of Australia, throughout much of the subtropical areas of the inland, from the Selwyn Range and from Carnarvon to Kalgoorlie. It is generally common except in the south-eastern end of its range in central and western Victoria, where it is now very scarce.
The wingspan is about 30 mm.
The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including Cassia artemisioides, Cassia nemophila, Daviesia benthamii, and the Acacia species: A. acuminata, A. anceps, A. aneura, A. dealbata, A. deanei, A. harpophylla, A. mearnsii, A. parramattensis, A. pendula, A. pycnantha, A. rubida, A. saligna and A. victoriae.
The caterpillars are attended by the ant species Iridomyrmex rufoniger.