Candalides urumelia (Spotted Opal)

Synonyms

This species was previously classified as Nesolycaena urumelia

Notes

This gorgeous species had been top of my target list for my trip to Darwin in April 2018. I had thought of getting across to Channel Island in the hope of finding it there, but fortunately Richard Weir took me out to a spot at Tumbling Waters where quite a number of the butterflies were on the wing. In my opinion it’s an equisite butterfly, and I feel lucky to have been able to see it in the wild.

Sightings

Tumbling Waters, NT – April 2018, April 2024
Channel Island, Darwin – April 2024
Kakadu – April 2024

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