New records of the Fluffy Tit butterfly, Hypolycaena amasa Hewitson, [1865] (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae), from Macau and Hong Kong

Abstract

ABSTRACT The first records of the iconic lycaenid butterfly Hypolycaena amasa amasa Hewitson, [1865], commonly known as Fluffy Tit, from Macau and Hong Kong are reported here, along with its other Chinese records. A review on the knowledge of this species across its full distribution range reveals poor information on the larval food plants, in particular. In Hong Kong, early life stages have been found grazing only on the indigenous and widespread plant Clerodendrum cyrtophyllum Turcz. (Verbenaceae). While it is possible that its sudden presence in Macau and Hong Kong, some 150 km southeast of its previously known range, may be related to artificial transport of ornamental plants from mainland China, the fact that the immature stages selectively utilised only C. cyrtophyllum as host, while ignoring completely congeneric ornamental plants species of exotic origin (i.e., C. japonicum (Thumb.) Sweet and C. thomsonae Balf.), indicates that support for this hypothesis is highly unlikely. Therefore, this may represent a new case of poleward migration of species in response to environmental fluctuations related to ongoing climatic changes, global warming in particular. It is now important to monitor these colonies and establish whether they are able to survive in the medium to long term.