Hypolycaena danis (Orchid Flash)
15/02/2018
Cairns
29/05/2010
Fishery Falls, Cairns
29/05/2010
Fishery Falls, Cairns
29/05/2010
Fishery Falls, Cairns
29/05/2010
Fishery Falls, Cairns
29/05/2010
Fishery Falls, Cairns
29/05/2010
Fishery Falls, Cairns
29/05/2010
Fishery Falls, Cairns
15/02/2018
Cairns
15/02/2018
Cairns
15/02/2018
Cairns
26/10/2005
Cairns
26/10/2005
Cairns
26/10/2005
Cairns
26/10/2005
Cairns
26/10/2005
Cairns
29/05/2010
Fishery Falls, Cairns
23/11/2013
Cairns
23/11/2013
Cairns
Other Common Name
Black and White Tit
Notes
The Orchid Flash is considered to be a pest, as the larvae feed on orchids. It’s such a small species that I can only assume they must be very common and/or must lay a lot of eggs, as otherwise it’s hard to imagine that they could do much damage. Personally I think the butterflies are much prettier than the orchids, and the blue on the hind wing is a particularly beautiful colour.
I photographed my first specimen on an orchid just outside the old Orchid House in the Cairns Botanical Gardens, and I saw another inside but was unable to get close enough to photograph it. Since then I haven’t seen many of these butterflies, which is a shame as I think they’re really beautiful – orchid growers would no doubt disagree with me!
Sightings
Cairns – October 2005, May 2010, November 2013, February 2018