Butterfly of the Month

Butterfly of the Month

Let's celebrate Brisbane's butterflies! We'll put the spotlight onto a different species every month. It'll allow us to learn about the butterfly and its needs, and will help to train our eyes and recognition skills. You will also find information on larval host plants to start you off on planting for butterflies.

 

Butterfly of the Month - November 2024

The Eastern Dusk Flat (Chaetocneme beata) is also known as Common Red-eye. It can be found in locations along Australia’s eastern coast, thrives in rainforest setting, ...

Butterfly of the Month - October 2024

The Dingy Grass-skipper (Timoconia peron) is a common occurrence in Brisbane. The male adult butterfly has a wingspan of 29mm while the female reaches 30mm. 

Butterfly of the Month - September 2024

 

The White-banded Plane (Phaedyma shepherdi) has a wingspan of 55m for the male and 57mm for the female. Together with the wing design, it's the gliding flight pattern that identifies it  and provides its common name.

Butterfly of the Month - August 2024

The Monarch or Wanderer (Danaus plexippus) is one of the most recognised butterflies in Australia, yet it originates from the North American continent where it is known for its spectacular migration. 

Butterfly of the Month - July 2024

The Satin or Amaryllis Azure (Ogyris amaryllis amaryllis) belongs to the Lycanidae family. It has a wingspan of 34mm and stands out because of its irridescent colour on the upper wing.

Butterfly of the Month - June 2024

The Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi) has a wingspan of 43mm (male) and 47mm (female). It is one of the common butterflies in Australia spreading across a large part of the continent.

Butterfly of the Month - May 2024

The Purple Crow (Euploea tulliolus) reaches a wingspan of 60mm when female, with the male extending to 56mm, slightly smaller than the Common Crow (Euploea corinna). The butterfly starts its life cycle as a barrel shaped faint yellow egg approximately 1mm in height.

Butterfly of the Month - April 2024

The White Migrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) makes a frequent appearance during our current surveys. It stands out from other Migrant butterflies by wing pattern alone.

Butterfly of the Month - March 2024

Purple Moonbeam (Philiris innotata) is one of those little butterflies whose presence is known without the adult butterfly necessarily being seen.

Butterfly of the Month - February 2024

The Large Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe) is a much loved butterfly, quite common not least because of the variety of host plants the larvae use as food source. With a wingspan of 37mm for the male and 40mm for the female it's one of the smaller butterflies (although size may vary).

Butterfly of the Month - January 2024

The Bronze Flat (Netrocoryne repanda repanda) is of an almost shiny appearance when newly emerged from its pupa. The brown wing colour contrasts with cream to yellowish as well as dark brown spots and markings which may vary slightly. 

Butterfly of the Month - December 2023

The Cycad Blue (Theclinesthes onycha onycha) is a tiny butterfly with potentially a big effect on its favoured host plants, much to the dread of home gardeners. 

Butterfly of the Month - November 2023

The Dainty Swallowtail (Papilio anactus) is an elegant looking butterfly with a wingspan of 67mm for the male and 72mm for the female.Upper and underside are very similar looking. 

Butterfly of the Month - October 2023

The Capaneus Swallowtail (Papilio capaneus) is an impressive butterfly. The male reaches a wingspan of 85mm while the female even exceeds that with 91mm.

Butterfly of the Month - September 2023

Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna) is a stunning butterfly, especially when male and showcasing the intense dark  blue of the upper wings. With a mere 29mm wingspan for the male and 28mm for the female it belongs to the Lycaenidae family. 

Butterfly of the Month - August 2023

The Scarlet Jezebel (Delias argenthona argenthona) is a beautiful butterfly, one which can be seen flying all year round. It belongs to the family Pieridae (generally grouped as Whites and Yellows).

Butterfly of the Month - July 2023

 The Leafwing (Doleschallia bisaltide) is an intriguing butterfly, distinguishing itself by its beautiful rusty orange colour of the upper wings, yet easily blending into the background because of the variable wing underside.

Butterfly of the Month - June 2023

The Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia) is the largest of our Swallowtails in South-East Queensland with a wingspan of 105mm for the male and 115mm for the female, sometimes exceeding that. The butterfly’s conservation status is listed as vulnerable.

Butterfly of the Month - May 2023

The Chequered Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus sthelneus) belongs to the Family of Swallowtails (Papilionidae). This attractive butterfly has a wingspan of 72mm for the male and 73mm for the female. Thanks to its wing patterns and colours it can't be mistaken for any other. 

Butterfly of the Month - April 2023

The Small Green-banded Blue (Psychonotis caelius) is a favourite among Brisbane’s butterflies, not least because of its larval host plant the Soap Tree or Red Ash (Alphitonia excelsa) is very common in Brisbane.

Butterfly of the Month - March 2023

The Glasswing (Acraea andromacha) is common butterfly in Brisbane. It has a wingspan of 53mm (male) or 56mm (female). It stands out because the forewings are transparent with very few dark markings whereas the hindwings.

Butterfly of the Month - February 2023

The Splendid Ochre (Trapezites symmomus symmomus) is the first Skipper to be described in this series of butterfly introductions. It belongs to the second largest of our butterfly families, the Hesperiidae. It is common in Brisbane.

Butterfly of the Month - January 2023

The Lesser Wanderer (Danaus petilia) can't be missed by it's wingspan of 60mm alone. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae and with that of the Danainae, a subfamily  it shares with Blue Tiger...

Butterfly of the Month - December 2022

 

The Imperial Hairstreak (Jalmenus evagorasis a stunning butterfly with a wingspan of 32mm (male) and 37mm (female). The early life cycle stages intrigue as larvae and pupae are attended by ants.

Butterfly of the Month - November 2022

The Long-tailed Pea-blue (Lampides boeticus) has a wingspan of 25mm (male) and 27mm (female). This gorgeous little butterfly can easily be distinguished  from other species by…

Butterfly of the Month - October 2022

The Blue Triangle (Graphium choredon) is a striking butterfly, easily recognisable by appearance and size. It belongs to the Swallowtails (Papilionidae). Its wingspan reaches 57mm (male) and 60mm (female)..

Butterfly of the Month - September 2022

The Copper Pencilled-blue (Cyprotides cyprotus pallescens) is an intriguing little butterfly reaching a wingspan of 27mm for the male and 28mm for the female. It’s common name is derived from…..

Butterfly of the Month - August 2022

The Black Jezebel (Delias nigrinacan be seen all year around and is known as one of our winter butterflies. Males and females have a wingspan of 56mm. At first glance the adult butterfly resembles our March 2022 Butterfly of the Month, the Jezebel Nymph. 

Butterfly of the Month - July 2022

Evening Brown (Melanitis leda). This is a butterfly for all seasons. Walk through the bush at any time throughout the year, you are bound to disturb an Evening Brown. Helped by its colour on the underside, at first glance, the adult may be mistaken for part of the leaf litter.

Butterfly of the Month - June 2022

 The Australian Common Crow (Euploea corinna) is one of the species most often seen in Brisbane, be it in gardens or bushland settings. With a wingspan of 69mm for the male and 72mm for the female, it isn’t easily missed. 

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