Orchid Flash (Hypolycaena danis), is a medium size butterfly, native to Northern Australia and PNG. The adult butterfly lay its eggs on the buds of orchids and the larvae feed on the flower.

The butterfly is whitish, with white wings that have black edges all around. They lay small whitish eggs on flower buds. The larvae, burrows into and feeds on the flowers.

Ways to control them are unknown. Allegedly, the eggs are visible and the best way to control the butterfly is to remove the eggs by hand.

I have never seen one.

Dr. George Tsambourakis

29 Jan 2012