Amethyst Hairstreak (Jalmenus icilius) NO LOCAL PHOTO AVAILABLE. SEE FIELD GUIDES OR MUSEUM OF VICTORIA BIOINFORMATICS WEBSITE. Other Common Names: Icilius Blue Family of Butterflies: Lycaenidae (Blues and Coppers) Tony Morton’s records of Amethyst Hairstreak from the local area (between 2000 to 2013): six Date Location Notes 17-Nov- 2 pupae and a few larvae found on A. Sutton Grange 2002 mearnsii at Axe Creek reserve on small dealbata & mearnsii on road from 5-Dec- Axe Ck picnic ground by vineyard towards nr. Sutton Grange 2004 Pilcher's Bridge with leafhoppers LPI P emerge until 18 Dec Black Eagle picnic ground, junc. very few on one only A. mearnsii. one adult 17 & Sutton Grange to Bendigo and seen flying briefly, 2 pupae one pupating 30/11/02 Axe Ck. roads (Road to Pilchers larva taken. One large larva seen and left. Bridge) 11-Nov- Axe Creek 1.30 p.m. 34ºC Larva 2009 20-Nov- Axe Creek 1.30 p.m. 38ºC pupa 2009 7-Nov- Axe Creek, Dragonfire Castle a few larvae 2011 Other local observations: None Distribution Across Victoria (from Field 2013): Scattered records from around greater Melbourne, western Victoria and north-western Victoria. Larval Host Plants (from Field 2013): Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), Blackwood (A. melanoxylon) and Silver Cassia (Senna artemisiodes) Adult Flight Times in Victoria (from Field 2013): Most observations in Victoria between November to January, but with some from September to March. Conservation Status: National Butterfly Action Plan (2002): No conservation status Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Not listed 1 Butterflies of the Mount Alexander Shire – A Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club publication Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Listed as threatened. Advisory List of Threatened Victorian Invertebrates (DSE 2009): Vulnerable in Victoria. Other Notes: Probably rare and restricted in the Mount Alexander Shire. The local area is at the edge of the Amethyst Hairstreak’s distribution. References and further reading: Braby, M. F. (2004) The Complete Field Guide to the Butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (2009) Advisory List of Threatened Invertebrate Fauna in Victoria – 2009. Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne, Victoria (http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/threatened-species-and- communities/threatened-species-advisory-lists) Field, R.P. (2013) Butterflies: Identification and Life History. Museum Victoria Publishing, Melbourne. Sands, D.P.A. and New, T.R. (2002) The Action Plan for Australian Butterflies. Environment Australia, Canberra (http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/action-plan-australian-butterflies) Museum of Victoria Bioinformatics – Australian Butterflies: The Victorian Fauna http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/butter/ 2 Butterflies of the Mount Alexander Shire – A Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club publication .