Current distribution, preferred habitat, behaviour, and biology of the Inland Hairstreak, Jalmenus aridus Graham & Moulds, 1988 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 9 months ago

ABSTRACT – The Inland Hairstreak, Jalmenus aridus Graham & Moulds, 1988, is a Priority 1 listed butterfly endemic to Western Australia. It was previously recorded only from its type locality near Lake Douglas, 12 km SW of Kalgoorlie; however, a recent mining tenement fauna survey near Kalgoorlie uncovered a new breeding site. The discovery prompted a renewed effort to determine if there were additional breeding sites nearby. This paper details the results of our survey efforts and what we have learned about the distribution, preferred habitat, behaviour, and biology of J. aridus during two flight seasons. Jalmenus aridus is now recorded from 10 locations within an area of approximately 5,000 km2 (121 km N–S by 42 km E–W). Their preferred habitat is summarised as open woodland with mature Senna artemisioides ssp. filifolia as well as mixed flowering shrubs with open areas of well drained exposed ground adjoining the hostplants. The ant Froggattella kirbii (Lowne, 1865) must be present. We hope this paper will aid environmental consultants and encourage others to visit the region to further broaden the distribution and our knowledge of this elusive butterfly.