''Candalides erinus'', the small dusky-blue, is a species of
butterfly of the family
Lycaenidae. It is found in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and
Indonesia.
lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com
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The wingspan is about 20 mm. Adults are dark brown with a purple sheen. The underside is fawn with brown markings.
The larvae have been recorded feeding on '' Cassytha aurea'', '' Cassytha filiformis'' and ''Cassytha pubescens
''Cassytha pubescens'' is a native Australian hemiparasitic vine species, in the Laurel family. Common names for the species include devils twine, dodder-laurel, spilled devil's twine, snotty gobble or downy dodder-laurel. It is a widespread and ...
''. They are velvety green with a pale yellow dorsal line edged with brown markings. Pupation takes place in a grey or brown pupa with a length of about 10 mm.
Subspecies
*''C. e. erinus'' (Darwin, Cape York to northern New South Wales)
*''C. e. tualensis'' (Röber, 1886) (Kai Island)
*''C. e. stevensi'' Wind & Clench, 1947 (West Irian to southern New Guinea)
*''C. e. sumbensis'' (Tite, 1963) (Lesser Sunda Islands)
*''C. e. timorensis'' (Tite, 1963) (Timor, Wetar, Kissar, Letti islands)
*''C. e. taamensis'' (Tite, 1963) (Kur and Taam)
*''C. e. tenimberensis'' (Tite, 1963) (Tanimbar islands)
*''C. e. sudesta'' (Tite, 1963) (Tagula Island)
References
Candalidini
Butterflies described in 1775
Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius
{{Polyommatinae-stub