Hypolycaena danis

Hypolycaena danis, the black and white tit or orchid flash, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the Maluku Province in Indonesia as well as the New Guinea region and north-eastern Australia.^[1]

Hypolycaena danis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Hypolycaena
Species:	H. danis
Binomial name
Hypolycaena danis (C. & R. Felder, [1865])
Synonyms
Myrina danis C. & R. Felder, [1865] Pseudonotis turneri Waterhouse, 1903 Hypolycaena danisoides de Nicéville, 1897

The wingspan is about 30 mm. The hindwings have blue edges with black spots and two tails. The underside of the wings is similar, but the pale areas are yellowish.^[2]

The larvae feed on Vanda species and Dendrobium bigibbum,^[3] Dendrobium canaliculatum, Cattleya, Renanthera, Phalaenopsis and Phalaenanthe species.

Pupation takes place in an off-white pupa, which is attached to the stem of the host plant.

Subspecies

• H. d. danis (Bachan, Halmahera, Morotai)
• H. d. danisoides de Nicéville, 1897 (Kai Islands)
• H. d. deripha Hewitson, 1878 (Aru, New Guinea, Louisade Archipelago)
• H. d. milo Grose-Smith (New Britain)
• H. d. turneri (Waterhouse, 1903) (Cape York to Cairns)

Gallery

• 
  H. d. danis male
• 
  H. d. danis female
• 
  H. d. danisoides male
• 
  H. d. danisoides female
• 
  H. d. derpiha male
• 
  H. d. derpiha female