STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ACRODIPSAS-ILLIDGEI (WATERHOUSE AND LYELL)(LEPIDOPTERA, LYCAENIDAE) AT REDLAND BAY, SOUTHEASTERN QUEENSLAND, AND A NEW PLANT-ASSOCIATION RECORD
Jp. Beale et Mp. Zalucki, STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ACRODIPSAS-ILLIDGEI (WATERHOUSE AND LYELL)(LEPIDOPTERA, LYCAENIDAE) AT REDLAND BAY, SOUTHEASTERN QUEENSLAND, AND A NEW PLANT-ASSOCIATION RECORD, Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 34, 1995, pp. 163-168
A study of the spatial distribution of the rare, myrmecophagous Illidg
e's ant-blue butterfly, Acradipsas illidgei (Waterhouse and Lyell) was
made in a mangrove habitat: and adjacent landward areas at Redland Ba
y, southeastern Queensland, Australia. A smaller, similar study was ma
de at Mary River Heads, east of Maryborough, Queensland. At Redland Ba
y a single dead, bored-out branch (stub) containing the host ant Crema
togaster sp. (laeviceps F. Smith group) was taken from each of 100 gre
y mangrove trees, A vicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. (Avicenniaceae).
Live A. illidgei immatures were found in 2% of ant nests at Redland Ba
y, while a further 3% showed evidence of previous occupancy. Of seven
trees at Mary River Heads, one contained A. illidgei larvae. The major
ity of stubs (80%, from four trees) from a landward tree, Allocasuarin
a glauca (Sieber ex Sprengel) (Casuarinaceae), occupied by the host an
t contained immature: stages of A. illidgei and another ant-attended l
ycaenid, Ogyris amaryllis Hewitson.