Collected 1770: Endeavour River

Collected 2018: Mapleton

The artwork is a portrait in two parts, one depicting the rod flowerheads and coiling seedpods on an uneaten branchlet; and the other depicting a special butterfly and ant relationship.

Jalmenus evagoras is a small butterfly notable for its unique mutualism with ants of the genus Iridomyrmex. The ants provide protection for the caterpillars and cues for adult mating behaviour. They are rewarded with food secreted from the butterfly larvae. The ants greatly enhance the survival and reproductive success of the butterflies.

Female butterflies are more likely to lay their eggs on acacias with ants. They can also tell the difference between different species of ants and identify the ones that are better suited to protect their young. Females can also sense the nutritional quality of the plant, such as the nitrogen and water content in the leaves.