Eirmocides margarita (Trident Pencil-blue)
21/11/2010
Mount Sugarloaf
21/11/2010
Mount Sugarloaf
21/11/2010
Mount Sugarloaf
13/09/2008
Lake Placid, Cairns
27/04/2023
Cairns
24/03/2016
Crystal Cascades, Cairns
28/04/2021
Herberton, QLD
28/04/2021
Herberton, QLD
24/03/2016
Crystal Cascades, Cairns
24/03/2016
Crystal Cascades, Cairns
12/04/2013
13/02/2016
Avalon
10/11/2008
Spring Mountain, QLD
14/02/2010
Mount Tibberoowuccum, QLD
14/02/2010
Mount Tibberoowuccum, QLD
21/11/2010
Mount Sugarloaf
21/11/2010
Mount Sugarloaf
21/11/2010
Mount Sugarloaf
13/09/2008
Lake Placid, Cairns
16/11/2013
Iron Range
22/11/2013
Cairns
24/01/2015
Avalon
13/02/2016
Avalon
18/11/2016
Shoal Bay
07/04/2024
Mount Burrell, NT
07/04/2024
Mount Burrell, NT
07/04/2024
Mount Burrell, NT
07/04/2024
Mount Burrell, NT
07/04/2024
Mount Burrell, NT
Synonyms
This species was previously classified as Candalides margarita.
The subspecies Eirmocides margarita gilberti was previously classified as a separate species with the name Candalides gilberti
Other Common Names
Margarita Blue, Northern Pencil-blue, Gilbert’s Blue
Notes
This was one of the many butterflies that were hilltopping on Spring Mountain, QLD. I suppose I should have taken more pics, but everything was really busy up there!
I was surprised to see dozens of these butterflies at the top of Mount Sugarloaf, in November and especially December 2010. According to the books they’re not found this far south, so this seems to be an extension of their range. In 2015 and 2016 I photographed them as far south as Avalon, on Sydney’s northern beaches, though I didn’t see any of them at the same site in later years.
Sightings
Spring Mountain, QLD – November 2008.
Mount Tibberoowuccum, Qld – February 2010
Mount Sugarloaf, NSW – November 2010, December 2010, March 2013
Cairns – September 2008, November 2013
Iron Range – November 2013
Avalon – January 2015, February 2016