Butterflies
There are 127 families & 165,000 species of moths & butterflies that make up the order of “LEPIDOPTERA”. The word Lepidoptera means (scaily winged insects) Australia all over there is roughly 400 True Butterflies, 105 Skippers & 22,000 species of Moths.
All 3 of these including skippers, have 4 stages to their Life Cycle
- Egg
- Larvae
- Pupae
- Adult
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Lepidoptera larvae hatch from eggs that are caterpillars
Each going through a number of moults, once the caterpillar has grown to a desired size, it then forms a chrysalis (cocoon) which will stay inside for a quite a long time developing. Once there is a change in weather pattern when it has rained, reached to a specific temperature & humidity level, the butterfly emerges from its cocoon, usually hangs upside down from the chrysalis so it can let its wings dry & expand. When this has occured they warm up their body & flight muscles. Lepidopterans live in all different types of habitat, ranging from Mountains, Mangroves, Alpine terrain, Rainforests, Jungles, & the Outback.
Australian Admiral
(Vanessa itea)
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Wingspan: both sexes 50mm
Behaviour: Adults fly rapidly fast & land frequently
Habitat: along gullies, creeks, suburban gardens & many more
Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
Status/distribution: generally common & widespread
Australian Painted Lady
(Cynthia kershawi)
(Cynthia kershawi)
Wingspan: Males 43mm, Females 47mm
Behaviour: Adults fly rapidly fast & land frequently
Habitat: suburban & country gardens
Active period of Adults: Spring, Summer and Autumn
Status/distribution: very common & widespread in most of Australia
Cabbage White
(Pieris rapae)
Wingspan: both sexes 44mm
Behaviour: Males patrol the vegetation ground in search of females
Habitat: suburban & country gardens, farmlands
Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
Status/distribution: frequently common & widespred. Accidently introduced into Australia in 1939, since its arrival it has become a common pest. The caterpillars attack vegetable crops.
Wingspan: both sexes 55mm
Behaviour: males patrol in search of newly emerged females around large clusters of pupae
Habitat: suburban & country gardens, to the west of the Great Dividing Range
Active period of Adults: Spring to Summer
Status/distribution: common in NE Victoria
Common Brown
(Heteronympha merope)
Wingspan: Males 56mm, Females 64mm
Behaviour: males fly slowly close to the ground over grasses in the early season
Habitat: suburban gardens, grassy woodland, & dry eucalypt open forests.
Active period of Adults: Summer
Status/distribution: common in NE Victoria
Additional notes: Adults have a single circle spot that looks like an eye at the side of each wing. Females are bigger, look like 2 different species, they have yellow patches on each forewing, & 4 single eye spots on all 4 wings. These insects are often found resting on the ground in amongst dry grass on hot days, you'll often find them early in the morning when its beginning to warm & late in the afternoon.
Dingy Swallowtail
(Papilio anactus)
(Papilio anactus)
Wingspan: Males 67mm, Females 72mm.
Behaviour: males establish territories by patrolling in open sunny areas.
Habitat: This spectacular species is commonly found in suburban gardens of Victoria, NSW, parts of QLD & other small spots of Australia.
Active period of Adults: Spring to Summer
Status/distribution: common in NE Victoria
Larval food plant: citrus leaves
Imperial White
(Delias harpalyce)
Wingspan: Males 67mm, Females 72mm
Behaviour: adults soar & flutter slowly around the tops of trees where the larval food plants often grow.
Habitat: suburban & country gardens, near the Great Dividing Range
Active period of Adults: Spring to Summer
Status/distribution: common in NE Victoria
Larval food plant: Caterpillars feed on Mistletoe
Larval colour: dark maroon, black head with grey hairs pointing outwards on body
Additional notes: misty blue on top of wings, with black edges, red & yellow spots underneath.
Meadow Argus
(Junonia villida)
Wingspan: Males 40mm, Females 43mm
Behaviour: Adults fly fast within 1 metre above the ground
Habitat: Suburban & country gardens, open woodland & grasslands
Active period of Adults: Spring, Autumn & Summer
Status/distribution: very common & widespread in Australia
Small Grass Yellow
(Eurema smilax)
Wingspan: Males 30mm, Females 33mm
Behaviour: Adults fly close to the ground amongst shrubs
Habitat: Open woodland, grassland, & arid shrublands
Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
Status/distribution: common in NE Victoria
Tailed Emperor
(Polyura semipronus)
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Wingspan: Males 75mm, Females 85mm
Behaviour: Adults have a fast & powerful flight
Habitat: Suburban & country gardens
Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
Status/distribution: common in NSW, VIC & Northern Territory
Larval food plant: Cootamundra Wattle
Larval colour: caterpillars have 4 distinctive horns on their head, green & yellow bands on body with little blue dots on the green patches
Additional notes: Underneath their wings they have cream coloured & brown markings
Wood White
(Delias aganippe)
(Delias aganippe)
Wingspan: Males 61mm, Females 63mm
Behaviour: adults have a gliding flight with their wings outspread
Habitat: dry eucalypt open forests, suburban gardens
Active period of Adults: Spring to Summer
Status/distribution: common, also in NE NSW