Insects
Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera)
Blues & Coppers (Lycaenidae)
Sighting 4435401

Acrodipsas myrmecophila

13 Small Ant-blue Butterfly at suppressed

Acrodipsas myrmecophila at suppressed - suppressed
Acrodipsas myrmecophila at suppressed - suppressed
Acrodipsas myrmecophila at suppressed - suppressed
Acrodipsas myrmecophila at suppressed - suppressed
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Identification history

Acrodipsas myrmecophila 22 May 2022 owenh

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Significant sighting

MichaelMulvaney noted:

23 May 2022

New breeding location of Small-ant Blue which is only known to presently breed at less than 10 locations.

User's notes

Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve. Newly emerged female (pictured) located 5 Oct 2021 (partly cloudy, cool wind, 12 deg C). Another on 6th and a male on 9th. Numbers subsequently increased. Breeding behaviour and ovipositing observed and recorded. Numerous eggs laid over a period, eggs attended by Papyrius sp, with most hatching by Christmas.

5 comments

MichaelMulvaney wrote:
   23 May 2022
Thanks Owen is this a new or known location?
owenh wrote:
   23 May 2022
Michael a new site for me but I have no idea what breeding records Suzi @SuziBond has for the reserve
MichaelMulvaney wrote:
   23 May 2022
I think we only had hill-topping at this reserve before so a very exciting and significant find but will wait for Suzi to confirm. If you have photos of the attending ants it would be good to send those to jon.lewis@outlook.com.au. Also the Parks and Conservation Service should be told of the exact location so that protection of teh site can be part of their management.
MichaelBedingfield wrote:
   23 May 2022
I've checked the distribution map for Tugg. Hill. This is only the second record of this species on Tugg. Hill. The other was as you said Michael and quite a distance away, so it is a new location for CNM.
SuziBond wrote:
   23 May 2022
Brilliant work Owen! This is a new breeding location, the first confirmed for TH although they hilltop there.

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Sighting information

Additional information

  • Mealy Bundy (Eucalyptus nortonii) Associated plant
  • Papyrius sp. Associated animal
  • 12mm to 25mm Animal size
  • Mixed Gender
  • Breeding behaviour Breeding behaviour

Species information

Record quality

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  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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