New distribution and larval food plant records of the Bright Forest-blue (Paradipsas cephenes (Hewitson, 1874)) from eastern Australia

Abstract

The Bright Forest-blue ( Paradipsas cephenes (Hewitson, 1874)) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) is endemic to eastern Australia and has an obligatory association with the ant Anonychomyrma gilberti. The butterfly was recorded from Mackay in central Queensland 126 years ago, but has not been observed there since 1899. However, in 2025 we recorded it from a new location at Eungella, ~70 km W of Mackay, providing confirmation of this important intervening central population in the geographical range of the species. The shrub Clerodendrum floribundum R.Br. (Lamiaceae) is recorded as a larval food plant from Kuranda, Qld. This new host record adds to the list of six other families of plants eaten by the larvae of this polyphagous species.