Jalmenus icilius

Jalmenus icilius
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Tribe:	Zesiini
Genus:	Jalmenus
Species:	J. icilius
Binomial name
	Jalmenus icilius; (Hewitson, [1865])
Synonyms
	Ialmenus icilius Hewitson, 1865; Cupido oeneus Tepper, 1882; Ialmenus icilius mitchelli Edwards, 1951; Ialmenus icilius obscurus Edwards, 1951; Ialmenus icilius parvus Burns, 1951;

The Icilius Blue or Amethyst Hairstreak (Jalmenus icilius) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in all mainland states of Australia, throughout much of the subtropical areas of the inland, from the Selwyn Range and from Carnarvon to Kalgoorlie. It is generally common except in the south-eastern end of its range in central and western Victoria, where it is now very scarce.

The wingspan is about 30 mm.

The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including Cassia artemisioides, Cassia nemophila, Daviesia benthamii, Acacia acuminata, Acacia anceps, Acacia aneura, Acacia dealbata, Acacia deanei, Acacia harpophylla, Acacia mearnsii, Acacia parramattensis, Acacia pendula, Acacia pycnantha, Acacia rubida, Acacia saligna and Acacia victoriae.

The Caterpillars are attended by the ant species Iridomyrmex rufoniger.

External links

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