Hypochrysops delicia, the moonlight jewel, is a member of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in eastern Australia.[1]

Hypochrysops delicia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Hypochrysops
Species:
H. delicia
Binomial name
Hypochrysops delicia
Hewitson, 1875
Synonyms
  • Miletus delicia delos Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914
  • Miletus delicia var. duaringae Waterhouse, 1903
  • Hypochrysops regina Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1895

The wingspan is about 40 mm.

The larvae feed on Acacia species, including A. binervia, A. dealbata, A. flavescens, A. implexa, A. irrorata, A. leiocalyx, A. mearnsii, A. melanoxylon, A. parramattensis, A. pycnantha and A. spectabilis. It is usually attended by Crematogaster species.

Subspecies

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  • H. d. delicia - Hewitson, 1875 (southern Queensland to central New South Wales)
  • H. d. delos - Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914 (southern New South Wales to Victoria)
  • H. d. duaringae - Waterhouse, 1903 (central Queensland)
  • H. d. regina - Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1895 (Moluccas)

References

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  1. ^ Australian Biological Resources Study (1 February 2016). "Species Hypochrysops delicia Hewitson, 1875". Australian Faunal Directory. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. Retrieved 8 July 2016.