Theclinesthes serpentata
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
Theclinesthes serpentata, commonly known as the saltbush blue or chequered blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae that is native to Australia. The species was first described in 1869 by German entomologist and physician G. A. W. Herrich-Schäffer. It is common throughout all Australian states and territories, and can be found in a wide range of habitats.
This is a very small butterfly, with a wingspan of 18 mm (0.71 in) for both male and female specimens. On the top side, the wings have broad margins of brown, with blue colouration towards the thorax. The underside is brown with patches of white. Male and female specimens have the same colouration, which ranges from mid to dark brown and purple-blue to blue. The larvae grow to 9mm in length, with a textured skin surface and colouration ranging from pale green to grey-green. The caterpillars blend in with their host plant, the saltbush, but have black and yellow stripes lining their back that can distinguish them.
The saltbush blue has a wide distribution, due to their preferential food plant being dispersed across biomes and states. Thus, the butterfly occupies a diverse range of habitats... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hattah-Kulkyne National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Rottnest Island | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Saltbush Blue sighting in Rottnest Island on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 7 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January and August
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Saltbush Blue in Rottnest Island on a given day, against under 5% in May–July and September–October, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Saltbush Blue sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Saltbush Blue sightings, Rottnest Island ranks 2nd at about 20%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park (Australia, about 20%).
Same order: Lepidoptera
The closest relatives of the Saltbush Blue that you can see in Rottnest Island (order Lepidoptera, Butterflies and Moths) are Silver-spotted Ochre (about 30%), Klug's Xenica (about 30%) and Yellow Admiral (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Saltbush Blue is recorded against all the insects logged in Rottnest Island (8 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.
