- Theclinesthes miskini
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Theclinesthes miskini 
Dorsal view 
Ventral view Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Lycaenidae Genus: Theclinesthes Species: T. miskini Binomial name Theclinesthes miskini
(Lucas, 1889)[1]Synonyms - Lycaena miskini Lucas, 1889
- Nacaduba gaura Doherty, 1891
- Utica onycha var. atrosuffusa Waterhouse, 1903
- Theclinesthes eucalypti Sibatani & Grund, 1978
- Nacaduba arnoldi Fruhstorfer, 1916
The Wattle Blue (Theclinesthes miskini) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Australia and New Guinea.[2]
The wingspan is about 20 mm. Adults have a pale blue upperside with chequered margins, but females also have a broad black band around the margins. They also have an arc of white scalloped markings on the hindwings. The underside of the wings is fawn with several white markings.
The larvae feed on Paraserianthes lophantha, Sesbania cannabina, Acacia anceps, Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia flavescens, Acacia pycnantha, Acacia salicina, Acacia saligna, Acacia tetragonophylla, Acacia harpophylla, Acacia holosericea, Acacia neriifolia, Acacia victoriae, Alectryon diversifolius, Hakea vittata, Atalaya variifolia and Eucalyptus polycarpa. They prefer young seedlings. They are dark green or brown with a dark dorsal band and pale diagonal streaks. It is attended by various black or green ants.
Subspecies
- Theclinesthes miskini miskini (Australia: Cairns to Moruya, Nothern Territory)
- Theclinesthes miskini arnoldi (Fruhstorfer, 1916) (Cape York, Bismarck Archipelago)
- Theclinesthes miskini eucalypti Sibatani & Grund, 1978 (Queensland)
References
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