Arhopala micale
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
Arhopala micale, the common oakblue or shining oakblue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The species comprises about 16 subspecies, which are found in Melanesia and New Guinea as well as the north coast of Australia (see subspecies section).
The wingspan of Arhopala micale is approximately 40 mm. The upper surface of the wings is very similar to that of A.sophrosyne, but overall it appears somewhat more ultramarine, particularly in the costal area of the forewing, which exhibits a more violetish-blue hue. The under surface lacks the intense brightening in the distal part of all the wings; the spots are larger, more irregular, and in the hindwing.— superba Rob. is beneath in both sexes browner, in the female above the black margin of the wings is broader and more sharply defined
The larvae feed on Buchanania arborescens, Cordia dichotoma, Calophyllum inophyllum, Terminalia muelleri, Glochidion ferdinandi, Cryptocarya hypospodia, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Acmena, Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Heritiera littoralis and Oxera splendida. They are attended by the ant species Oecophylla smaragdina. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Shining Oak-Blue sighting in Daintree National Park on a given day, based on 27 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 107th most-seen of the 856 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February–April, July and September–November
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Shining Oak-Blue in Daintree National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January, the lowest month.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Shining Oak-Blue sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Shining Oak-Blue sightings, Daintree National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Kakadu National Park (Australia, about 10%).
Same genus: Arhopala
The closest relatives of the Shining Oak-Blue that you can see in Daintree National Park (genus Arhopala, Oakblues) are Bright Oak-Blue (about 10%) and White Oak-Blue (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Shining Oak-Blue is recorded against all the insects logged in Daintree National Park (27 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
