Zizeeria karsandra (Moore, 1865)
(one synonym :
Polyommatus conformis)
Dark Grass Blue
POLYOMMATINI , POLYOMMATINAE ,
LYCAENIDAE
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 29 June 2009)
These Caterpillars are green and hairy.
They feed on the flowers, shoots, and fruits of various plants,
including :
Argentina AmaranthAmaranthus deflexus,
AMARANTHACEAE ), and
Green Pigweed ( Amaranthus viridis,
AMARANTHACEAE ),
Hairy Carpet Weed ( Glinus lotoides,
MOLLUGINACEAE ),
Slender Carpet Weed ( Glinus oppositifolia,
MOLLUGINACEAE ),
Nahu ( Tribulus cistoides,
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE ), and
Bullshead Burr ( Tribulus terrestris,
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE ).
The Caterpillars are usually attnded by some ants of various species.
male and female upper surfaces
(photo: courtesy of
Yusuke Takanami & Yasuo Seki)
The adult butterflies are fawn on top, the male having a
purple iridescence.
Underneath, both sexes are pale grey,
with multiple arcs of brown dashes.
The butterflies have a wing span of about 2 cms.
male and female undersides
(Photo: courtesy of
Yusuke Takanami & Yasuo Seki)
The eggs are pale green, round, and flattened.
They are usually laid singly on the undersides
of leaves of a foodplant.
The species occurs from the Mediterranean to south-east Asia,
including :
Hong Kong,
India,
Jordan,
Thailand,
The Philippines, and also
the north and east of Australia, including
Victoria, and
South Australia.
Further reading :
Michael F. Braby,
Butterflies of Australia,
CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 2, pp. 835-836.
