The Jewel Butterflies A Monograph of the Lycaenid Genus Hypochrysops

About this book

With their intricate iridescent wing markings, Hypochrysops are considered among the most beautiful butterflies in the world, earning for themselves the common name of “Jewels”. The majority of Hypochrysops species are arboreal, living high in the forest canopy, and adults are infrequently attracted to flowers. Some have been known for many decades from only a solitary individual or just 2-3 specimens. The bulk of species are restricted to the forests of New Guinea and its associated islands, extending south to Australia, east to the northern New Hebrides Archipelago and west to Maluku and beyond, with just one small group of species occurring west of Wallace’s Line.

Until recently, some 109 Hypochrysops taxa (57 species: 147 names) were recognised; this modern treatment recognises 159 taxa (93 species: 211 names), with significant new synonymy and description of 21 new species and 30 subspecies. The authors carried out extensive and detailed research over more than two decades, spending many years in the field, and between them have travelled more than 250,000 kilometres in visiting museums, and university and private collections across the world, collaborating with professional and amateur entomologists. Many primary type specimens previously declared lost were located (96% of all 211 primary types and hundreds of secondary types are illustrated) and some complex, long-standing errors and points of confusion in taxonomy, nomenclature and identification in the literature are unravelled in detail. 

This long-awaited generic monograph sets a new benchmark for butterfly books. This magnificent volume presents almost 2,500 specimen images on 126 plates, demonstrating the full range of individual and geographical variation of all Hypochrysops taxa, with hundreds more specimens embedded in the text to support species identification and illustrate historical specimens (including butterflies collected on James Cook’s first visits to Australia), full colour distribution maps, genitalia preparations, superb habitat photographs and colour plates reproduced from historical publications.

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