Candalides heathi

Candalides heathi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Candalides
Species:	C. heathi
Binomial name
Candalides heathi (Cox, 1873)[1]
Synonyms
Lycaena heathi Cox, 1873 Microsema heathi Lycaena paradoxa Guest, 1882

The Rayed Blue (Candalides heathi) is a species of butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in southern Australia, including South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.^[2]

The wingspan is about 30 mm. Adults are pale brown with a purple sheen. The underside is white with a row of black dots along the wing margins.

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Pimelea species, Eremophila longifolia, Plantago species and Derwentia derwentiana. They are green with dense white hairs and six reddish nobs on their back. The larvae are attended by black ants. Pupation takes place in a brown pupa with a length of about 10 mm which is formed on the hostplant or in debris on the ground.

Subspecies

• Candalides heathi heathi (coastal central Queensland to Western Australia)
• Candalides heathi aerata (Montague, 1914) (Western Australia (Monte Bello Island, Geraldton)
• Candalides heathi alpina Waterhouse, 1928 (Mount Kosciusko, Brindabella Range)
• Candalides heathi doddi Burns, [1948] (New South Wales (Barrington Tops, Dorrigo))

References

1. ^ Australian Faunal Directory
2. ^ lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com