Blotched Blue
Common NameBlotched Blue
Scientific NameCandalides acasta
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyTheclinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsgrey, brown, blue, black
HabitatOpen woodlands, mallee, heathlands, coastal dunes
Geographic RangeSouthern Australia (Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania)
Host PlantsAcacia, Cassia, Daviesia, Eucalyptus, Pultenaea
Flight PeriodSeptember to May (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on young shoots or leaves of host plants. Larvae are often myrmecophilous and pupate on or near the host plant.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive blotched pattern on the greyish-brown underside. Males have an iridescent blue upperside, while females are duller brown.
Description
A small butterfly with a greyish-brown underside covered in numerous small, irregular dark spots or blotches. Males typically have an iridescent blue upperside.
