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Green-banded Line Blue
Nacaduba cyanea (Cramer [1775])

Nacaduba cyanea
Male. (Edge Hill, QLD, 10 / 07 / 2023)

Appearance: Male upperside blue, female upperside grey-brown with extended, white patches and light-blue subterminal band on the hind wing. Underside of both sexes mainly grey-brown and white with light-blue, iridescent band on the hind wing only. Long, fine tail on the hind wing.
Wingspan: 2.8–3.0 cm
Season: All around the year.
Range: Coastal areas of north-eastern QLD and Cape York Peninsula.
Habitat: Edges of lowland rainforest.

Notes

The Green-banded Line Blue can be found locally along the edges of tropical rainforest in north-eastern QLD. There are a few similar species, in particular the Large Green-banded Blue (Danis danis) and the Small Green-banded Blue (Psychonotis caelius). The Green-banded Line Blue can be easily distinguished from these through the tail on the hind wing and the lack of a light-blue, iridescent band on the fore wing underside.

Additional Photos

Nacaduba cyanea
The upperside of the male is bright-blue with a narrow grey margin. (Edge Hill, QLD, 10 / 07 / 2023)
Nacaduba cyanea
View of the characteristic underside; note the fine tail on the hind wing. (Daintree NP, QLD, 30 / 12 / 2005)