Petrelaea tombugensis (Mauve Line-blue)

Other Common Names

Dana Blue

Notes

This is a very small, unobtrusive butterfly, and it usually flies quite high up around its foodplant, which is a tree called Terminalia catappa. At Ellis Beach in December 2008, the trees had some flowers that were low enough for me to get photos. Most of the butterflies remained high up, but occasionally one would settle lower down, so I was able to get a few photos. It was windy, and in most cases I had to reach up with one hand and gently pull the branch down lower, whilst taking the shot with the other hand – I was lucky that they turned out…

The only other time I’ve seen this butterfly was at Rowes Bay, Townsville but I was not able to get any photos.

Sightings

Ellis Beach, near Cairns – December 2008
Rowes Bay, Townsville – December 2017

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