Udara blackburni, the Koa butterfly, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae that is endemic to Hawaiʻi. It is also known as Blackburn's butterfly, Blackburn's bluet, Hawaiian blue or green Hawaiian blue.
| Koa butterfly | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mating pair | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Udara |
| Species: | U. blackburni
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| Binomial name | |
| Udara blackburni (Tuely, 1878)
| |
| Synonyms | |
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The wingspan is 22–29 mm.
The larvae feed on Acacia species (especially Acacia koa), Pithecellobium, Samanea saman, Perottetia sandwicensis, Dodonaea viscosa and Pipturus albidus.[1]
Udara blackburni is one of only two butterfly species that are native to Hawai'i, the other being Vanessa tameamea. These butterflies have wings that are blue on the upper side and green on the under side.[2]
Description and biology
editThese butterflies have a wingspan of about an inch.[2] The upper sides of their wings are blue and they often perch with their wings folded which reveals the under sides of the wings which are green.[3] The adults feed on flower nectar with their long coiled up proboscis. The caterpillars are primarily found feeding on the Koa tree but occasionally on ʻaʻaliʻi, olomea, and māmaki plants.[3]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species is endemic to Hawaiʻi and has been recorded on the islands of Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, Molakaʻi, Lanaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island. Of the main Hawaiian Islands, the only two that have no records of these butterflies are Niʻihau and Kahoʻolawe.[4]
Cultural significance
editNative insects developed a lot of cultural meaning to Polynesians in the Hawaiian Islands.
References
edit- ^ Zimmerman, Elwood C. (1958). Insects of Hawaii, Volume 7: Macrolepidoptera. University of Hawaii Press. p. 491-497.
- ^ a b "Koa Butterfly". hbs.bishopmuseum.org. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ a b "Koa Butterfly | Hawaiian Forest". hawaiianforest.com. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- ^ "Koa Butterfly". hbs.bishopmuseum.org. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
External links
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