Hypochrysops miskini (Coral Jewel)
07/09/2012
Cairns
07/09/2012
Cairns
07/09/2012
Cairns
08/09/2012
Glacier Rock, Cairns
09/09/2012
Cairns
20/11/2013
Cairns
09/09/2012
Cairns
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
25/04/2011
Atherton
16/02/2018
Atherton, QLD
Other Common Name
Miskin’s Jewel
Notes
There were about 3 or 4 of these around some Smilax near Atherton in April 2011, though only one was visible at any one time. They were very unobtrusive; I was expecting to see them flying around rapidly like some of the other jewels, but I didn’t see that happen once. Fortunately I was with Bob Miller, who spotted the butterflies for me.
One of the females was slowly walking around the foodplant, apparently looking for places to lay eggs. She was so preoccupied that she didn’t seem to notice me clumsily moving around to get shots from different angles. However, when a male turned up later on he was much more alert so I only got one (not very good) photo of him.
The following year I found several more miskini in the same now-defunct spot where I photographed both species of Pseudodipsas in the Smithfield Regional Park, and I also saw one at the top of Glacier Rock. Since then I’ve not had much luck, just seeing the occasional one specimen.
Sightings
Atherton, Qld – April 2011, February 2018
Cairns – September 2012, November 2013