Rachel Favelle - Nature on Paper - Imperial Hairstreak Butterfly

The adult butterfly shows distinctive underwing markings and pale blue upperwings, with a blackish margin typical of many hairstreak butterflies. They have a mutual relationship with some insects, the caterpillars provide sugar for the ants and the ants protect the caterpillar from predators. These endangered butterflies usually fly close to the ground and breed in open eucalypt forests and woodlands with acacia. Drainage of swamps for farming purposes, pesticides and the weeds that cover remaining swamps smother the native violets that they lay their eggs on.