Arhopala micale

Arhopala micale
A. m. amphis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Arhopala
Species:	A. micale
Binomial name
Arhopala micale Blanchard, 1853
Synonyms
Arhopala amphis Waterhouse, 1942 Amblypodia amytis Hewitson, 1862 Amblypodia cyronthe Miskin, 1890 Arhopala amydon Waterhouse, 1942 Arhopala tebaensis Strand, 1913

Arhopala micale, the common oakblue or shining oakblue, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. The species comprises about 16 subspecies, which are found in Melanesia and New Guinea as well as the north coast of Australia (see subspecies section).

The wingspan is about 40 mm.

The larvae feed on Buchanania arborescens, Cordia dichotoma, Callophyllum inophyllum, Terminalia muelleri, Glochidion ferdinandi, Cryptocarya hypospodia, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Acmena, Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Heritiera littoralis and Faradaya splendida. They are attended by the ant species Oecophylla smaragdina. When not feeding, the larvae rest in a curled leaf or the entrance to the ants' nest.

Subspecies

• A. m. micale (southern New Guinea to Papua, Manam Island, Fergusson Island, Yule Island)
• A. m. amphis (Australia, from Cooktown to Yeppoon)
• A. m. amytis (Thursday Island, Cape York)
• A. m. amydon (Groote Eylandt, Murray Island, Darwin)
• A. m. superba (Bachan, Halmahera, Morotai, Ternate)
• A. m. obina (Obi)
• A. m. acerba (Goram)
• A. m. leptines (Kai Island)
• A. m. ribbei (Aru)
• A. m. selymbria (Waigeu)
• A. m. bosnika (Biak)
• A. m. jona (Mioswar, Jobi, Noemfoor Island)
• A. m. novaeguineae (western West Irian)
• A. m. centra (northern New Guinea, north-eastern New Guinea, Karkar Island)
• A. m. cidona (Trobriand Island, Woodlark)
• A. m. riuna (Riu, Tagula, Yela, St. Aignan Island)

External links

• Australian Insects