Butterfly (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) sightings


Butterflies, along with moths (which are not dealt with in this section), belong to the Order Lepidoptera. We have over 400 species of butterfly in Australia. Our local butterflies belong to five families: the Skippers (Hesperiidae), Blues (Lycaenidae), Nymphs (Nymphalidae), Swallowtails (Papillionidae), and the Whites and Yellows (Pieridae).

While there are a handful of butterfly species which can be observed on the wing at any month of the year, the butterfly season is generally from September through to April. Most species will fly for only a part of the season however. Butterflies prefer warm, sunny, calm weather, and it will be much easier to find butterflies in these conditions. Some species also prefer to fly at a certain time of the day. It is often easier to observe butterflies at high points in the landscape like hill summits, as the males of many species of butterfly will congregate at such points to set up breeding territories; this behaviour is called hilltopping. Another easy way to find butterflies is to locate flowering plants and watch what butterflies come to visit.

When taking photos of butterflies, it is most helpful to obtain images of both the upperside (dorsal) view of the wings, in addition to the underside (ventral) view of the wings. This makes the identification process much easier for some of the hard-to-identify species. If possible, including features of the butterfly’s surrounds for context can be helpful for determining the relative size of the butterfly. Bear in mind that as a butterfly ages, it can become quite tatty and faded, so that it may have chunks of a wing missing, or appear much paler than it otherwise appears in photos.

Butterflies are the adult stage of the life cycle (so it’s important to note that if you see a small butterfly, it is not going to grow into a larger one, it will stay the same size!). Adult butterflies are the life stage responsible for the reproduction and dispersal of the species; the females lay eggs singly or in clusters on or near the larval food plant; these eggs then hatch into larvae (caterpillars) which are the life stage responsible for eating and growing; these then form a pupa (chrysalis) where the larval stage transforms into the adult butterfly. Some species will overwinter as eggs, or as larvae, or as pupae. Some species are migratory and do not overwinter here at all, and some species are only occasional vagrants to our area.

Further reference on Australian Lepidoptera by one of our Moderators Don Herbison-Evans can be found on the following web pages:



Page 109 of 133 - image sightings only

Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Paddys River, ACT - 20 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Queanbeyan West, NSW - 20 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Queanbeyan West, NSW - 20 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Queanbeyan West, NSW - 20 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Theclinesthes serpentata (Saltbush Blue) at Queanbeyan West, NSW - 20 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Dunlop, ACT - 20 Jan 2019 by Alison Milton
Charaxes sempronius (Tailed Emperor) at The Pinnacle - 20 Jan 2019 by Alison Milton
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Weetangera, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by Tammy
Paralucia aurifera (Bright Copper) at Paddys River, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at The Pinnacle - 19 Jan 2019 by Alison Milton
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Paddys River, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Hawker, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by Alison Milton
Oreixenica orichora (Spotted Alpine Xenica) at Munyang, NSW - 19 Jan 2019 by MB
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Hawker, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by AlisonMilton
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Hawker, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by Alison Milton
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Paddys River, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Paddys River, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Paddys River, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by michaelb
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Hughes, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by JackyF
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Hawker, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by AlisonMilton
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Aranda, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by KMcCue
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Hawker, ACT - 19 Jan 2019 by Alison Milton
Delias aganippe (Spotted Jezebel) at Acton, ACT - 18 Jan 2019 by JudithRoach
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Hughes, ACT - 18 Jan 2019 by JackyF
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Hughes, ACT - 18 Jan 2019 by JackyF
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Hughes, ACT - 18 Jan 2019 by JackyF
Belenois java (Caper White) at Kambah, ACT - 17 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Nicholls, ACT - 17 Jan 2019 by EmmaCook
Papilio anactus (Dainty Swallowtail) at Hackett, ACT - 17 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Hackett, ACT - 17 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Hackett, ACT - 17 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Tathra, NSW - 16 Jan 2019 by Suzhop
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) at Wamboin, NSW - 15 Jan 2019 by natureguy
Jalmenus icilius (Amethyst Hairstreak) at Cook, ACT - 15 Jan 2019 by CathB
Graphium macleayanum (Macleay's Swallowtail) at Porters Creek, NSW - 15 Jan 2019 by Charles Dove
Mesodina halyzia (Eastern Iris-skipper) at Ulladulla, NSW - 15 Jan 2019 by Harrisi
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 14 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 14 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 14 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 14 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Kambah, ACT - 14 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 14 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Ogyris olane (Broad-margined Azure) at Jerrabomberra, ACT - 14 Jan 2019 by Christine
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Wee Jasper, NSW - 13 Jan 2019 by Harrisi
Neolucia hobartensis (Montane Heath-blue) at Paddys River, ACT - 13 Jan 2019 by Christine
Netrocoryne repanda (Bronze Flat) at Wee Jasper, NSW - 13 Jan 2019 by Harrisi
Hesperilla donnysa (Varied Sedge-skipper) at Tharwa, ACT - 12 Jan 2019 by Christine
Hesperilla donnysa (Varied Sedge-skipper) at Tharwa, ACT - 12 Jan 2019 by Christine
Heteronympha cordace (Bright-eyed Brown) at Paddys River, ACT - 12 Jan 2019 by Christine
Paralucia pyrodiscus (Fiery Copper) at Isaacs, ACT - 12 Jan 2019 by Mike
Trapezites phigalioides (Montane Ochre) at Paddys River, ACT - 12 Jan 2019 by Christine
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Conder, ACT - 12 Jan 2019 by michaelb
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Conder, ACT - 12 Jan 2019 by michaelb
Paralucia pyrodiscus (Fiery Copper) at Conder, ACT - 12 Jan 2019 by michaelb
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Spence, ACT - 12 Jan 2019 by Laserchemisty
Paralucia pyrodiscus (Fiery Copper) at Michelago, NSW - 11 Jan 2019 by Illilanga
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Michelago, NSW - 11 Jan 2019 by Illilanga
Geitoneura acantha (Ringed Xenica) at Paddys River, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Heteronympha cordace (Bright-eyed Brown) at Paddys River, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by RFYank
Heteronympha cordace (Bright-eyed Brown) at Paddys River, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by HarveyPerkins
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Michelago, NSW - 11 Jan 2019 by Illilanga
Jalmenus icilius (Amethyst Hairstreak) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 11 Jan 2019 by Wandiyali
Jalmenus evagoras (Imperial Hairstreak) at Acton, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by Christine
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 11 Jan 2019 by Wandiyali
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Deakin, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by JackyF
Belenois java (Caper White) at Booth, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by KMcCue
Belenois java (Caper White) at Booth, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by KMcCue
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Deakin, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by KL
Trapezites phigalioides (Montane Ochre) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by HarveyPerkins
Neolucia agricola (Fringed Heath-blue) at Cotter River, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by RFYank
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Hawker, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by Alison Milton
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Higgins, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by Alison Milton
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Dunlop, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by CathB
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Mount Clear, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by SWishart
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Mount Clear, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by SWishart
Nacaduba biocellata (Two-spotted Line-Blue) at Acton, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Delias aganippe (Spotted Jezebel) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Acton, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Jalmenus icilius (Amethyst Hairstreak) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Neolucia hobartensis (Montane Heath-blue) at Mount Clear, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by SWishart
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Acton, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Dunlop, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by Alison Milton
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by SandraH
Hesperilla donnysa (Varied Sedge-skipper) at Tharwa, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Neolucia agricola (Fringed Heath-blue) at Paddys River, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Trapezites phigalioides (Montane Ochre) at Tennent, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Pasma tasmanica (Two-spotted Grass-skipper) at Tennent, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Trapezites eliena (Orange Ochre) at Tennent, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Tennent, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Coree, ACT - 8 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Netrocoryne repanda (Bronze Flat) at Coree, ACT - 8 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Coree, ACT - 8 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Paddys River, ACT - 8 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Heteronympha cordace (Bright-eyed Brown) at Paddys River, ACT - 8 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Nacaduba biocellata (Two-spotted Line-Blue) at Coree, ACT - 8 Jan 2019 by SWishart
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Coree, ACT - 8 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Heteronympha cordace (Bright-eyed Brown) at Paddys River, ACT - 8 Jan 2019 by MatthewFrawley
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Cook, ACT - 7 Jan 2019 by CathB
Paralucia aurifera (Bright Copper) at Paddys River, ACT - 7 Jan 2019 by RodDeb

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1,898,437 sightings of 21,107 species in 9,314 locations from 12,954 contributors
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