Hypolycaena danis, the black and white tit or orchid flash, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the Maluku Province in Indonesia as well as the New Guinea region and north-eastern Australia.[1]
| Hypolycaena danis | |
|---|---|
| |
| H. d. turneri | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Hypolycaena |
| Species: | H. danis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hypolycaena danis | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The wingspan is about 30 mm. The hindwings have blue edges with black spots and two tails. The underside of the wings is similar, but the pale areas are yellowish.[2]
The larvae feed on Vanda species and Dendrobium bigibbum,[3] Dendrobium canaliculatum, Cattleya, Renanthera, Phalaenopsis and Phalaenanthe species.
Pupation takes place in an off-white pupa, which is attached to the stem of the host plant.
Subspecies edit
- H. d. danis (Bachan, Halmahera, Morotai)
- H. d. danisoides de Nicéville, 1897 (Kai Islands)
- H. d. deripha Hewitson, 1878 (Aru, New Guinea, Louisade Archipelago)
- H. d. milo Grose-Smith (New Britain)
- H. d. turneri (Waterhouse, 1903) (Cape York to Cairns)
Gallery edit
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H. d. danis male -
H. d. danis female -
H. d. danisoides male -
H. d. danisoides female -
H. d. derpiha male -
H. d. derpiha female
References edit
- ^ On Hypolycaena from Maluku, Indonesia, including the first description of male Hypolycaena asahi (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae)
- ^ "Australian Insects". Archived from the original on 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ Hypolycaena at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
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