Prosotas dubiosa

Prosotas dubiosa (Semper, [1879])
Small Purple Line Blue
(previously known as Lampides dubiosa)
POLYOMMATINI, POLYOMMATINAE, LYCAENIDAE, PAPILIONOIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans,
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Prosotas dubiosa
(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island, Queensland)

This is a humpbacked corrugated Caterpillar. It is coloured yellow with brown speckles. It has been found feeding on the flowers and buds of various Australian native plants, including :

Tossa Jute ( Cajanus reticulatus, FABACEAE ),,

Black Wattle ( Acacia leiocalyx, MIMOSACEAE ),

Macadamia Nut ( Macadamia integrifolia, PROTEACEAE ),

Tulipwood ( Harpullia pendula, SAPINDACEAE ),

and introduced plants such as :

Wild Tamarind ( Leucaena leucocephala, MIMOSACEAE ), and

Lychee ( Litchi chinensis, SAPINDACEAE ).

pupa
(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island, Queensland)

The pupa is pale brown with dark brown speckles.

male
(Picture: courtesy of CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences)

The males and female adult butterflies are both brown with a purple sheen, particularly over the basal wing areas. The hinwings have an obscure black spot near the tornus. The females are larger and paler than the males.

female
(Picture: courtesy of CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences)

Underneath, both sexes are fawn with multiple arcs of white dashes. Each hindwing has a black spot under the tornus. The butterflies have a wing span of about 2 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island, Queensland)

The species occurs as several races throughout south-east Asia, including

and also in Australia in

the north of Western Australia,

Northern Territory,

Queensland,

New South Wales, and

South Australia.