The family Lycaenidae is the largest of the six butterfly families found in Australia. Their life cycles are more diverse than those of other butterfly families, with species that feed as larvae on leaves, flowers or fruit, and some that do not feed on plants at all. Many are associated with ants, usually in a mutualistic but occasionally in a parasitic relationship.
Australian Lycaenid Butterflies provides an overview of the biology and morphology of immature Lycaenidae, with an emphasis on Australian species. It includes descriptions of the eggs, larvae and pupae of more than 150 species of Australian Lycaenidae. It also covers life history information – including lists of larval food plants and ant associations – for all species with known or partially known life histories. Many of these have never been fully described in detail. High quality photographs of the immature stages and associated ants, as well as the adult butterflies, are provided across more than 150 colour plates.
Australian Lycaenid Butterflies is Volume 14 of the Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Series.