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 46 of 133 - image sightings only

Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Paddys River, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by SWishart
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Cotter River, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by JohnBundock
Heteronympha banksii (Banks' Brown) at Cotter River, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by JohnBundock
Geitoneura acantha (Ringed Xenica) at Cotter River, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by JohnBundock
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Campbell, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by Hejor1
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Campbell, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by Hejor1
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Campbell, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by Hejor1
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Campbell, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by Hejor1
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Campbell, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by Hejor1
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Braidwood, NSW - 2 Mar 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Downer, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by RobertD
Eurema smilax (Small Grass-yellow) at Paddys River, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by DPRees125
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Wee Jasper, NSW - 2 Mar 2023 by JudithRoach
Toxidia parvula (Banded Grass-skipper) at Mongarlowe, NSW - 2 Mar 2023 by LisaH
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Wee Jasper, NSW - 2 Mar 2023 by JudithRoach
Heteronympha banksii (Banks' Brown) at Paddys River, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by DPRees125
Papilio anactus (Dainty Swallowtail) at Murrumbateman, NSW - 2 Mar 2023 by SimoneC
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Wee Jasper, NSW - 2 Mar 2023 by JudithRoach
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Braemar, NSW - 2 Mar 2023 by Curiosity
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Gordon, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by RodDeb
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Watson, ACT - 2 Mar 2023 by AniseStar
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Downer, ACT - 1 Mar 2023 by RobertD
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Lakesland, NSW - 1 Mar 2023 by GlossyGal
Paralucia aurifera (Bright Copper) at Lakesland, NSW - 28 Feb 2023 by GlossyGal
Hypocysta metirius (Brown Ringlet) at Thirlmere, NSW - 28 Feb 2023 by GlossyGal
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Lakesland, NSW - 28 Feb 2023 by GlossyGal
Trapezites symmomus (Splendid Ochre) at Lakesland, NSW - 28 Feb 2023 by GlossyGal
Geitoneura acantha (Ringed Xenica) at Lakesland, NSW - 28 Feb 2023 by GlossyGal
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Kambah, ACT - 28 Feb 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Oakdale, NSW - 28 Feb 2023 by bufferzone
Heteronympha penelope (Shouldered Brown) at Jindabyne, NSW - 28 Feb 2023 by trevorpreston
Heteronympha penelope (Shouldered Brown) at Jindabyne, NSW - 28 Feb 2023 by trevorpreston
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Braemar, NSW - 28 Feb 2023 by Curiosity
Heteronympha banksii (Banks' Brown) at Paddys River, ACT - 28 Feb 2023 by RodDeb
Heteronympha paradelpha (Spotted Brown) at Braemar, NSW - 28 Feb 2023 by Curiosity
Heteronympha paradelpha (Spotted Brown) at Paddys River, ACT - 28 Feb 2023 by RodDeb
Acrodipsas myrmecophila (Small Ant-blue Butterfly) at Symonston, ACT - 28 Feb 2023 by Christine
Heteronympha paradelpha (Spotted Brown) at Paddys River, ACT - 28 Feb 2023 by RodDeb
Heteronympha penelope (Shouldered Brown) at Symonston, ACT - 28 Feb 2023 by Christine
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at O'Connor, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by ConBoekel
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by CathB
Oreixenica lathoniella (Silver Xenica) at Cotter River, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by BethanyDunne
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Cook, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by CathB
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Scullin, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by AnkeMaria
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Farrer, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Farrer, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by AaronClausen
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) at Jindabyne, NSW - 27 Feb 2023 by trevorpreston
Heteronympha paradelpha (Spotted Brown) at Kambah, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Jindabyne, NSW - 27 Feb 2023 by trevorpreston
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Tinderry, NSW - 27 Feb 2023 by danswell
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Bonython, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by RodDeb
Heteronympha paradelpha (Spotted Brown) at Acton, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by JohnBundock
Atkinsia dominula (Two-brand grass-skipper) at Tinderry, NSW - 27 Feb 2023 by danswell
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Bonython, ACT - 27 Feb 2023 by RodDeb
Atkinsia dominula (Two-brand grass-skipper) at Tinderry, NSW - 27 Feb 2023 by danswell
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at O'Connor, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by ConBoekel
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Belconnen, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by JohnGiacon
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at O'Connor, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by ConBoekel
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Ainslie, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by Hejor1
Eurema smilax (Small Grass-yellow) at Braemar, NSW - 26 Feb 2023 by Curiosity
Papilio demoleus (Chequered Swallowtail) at Braemar, NSW - 26 Feb 2023 by Curiosity
Hypocysta metirius (Brown Ringlet) at Nadgee, NSW - 26 Feb 2023 by SimoneC
Hypocysta metirius (Brown Ringlet) at Nadgee, NSW - 26 Feb 2023 by SimoneC
Heteronympha paradelpha (Spotted Brown) at Bundanoon, NSW - 26 Feb 2023 by Boobook38
Heteronympha paradelpha (Spotted Brown) at Paddys River, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by Mavis
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Stromlo, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by KorinneM
Oreixenica correae (Orange Alpine Xenica) at Cotter River, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by Ned_Johnston
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Cotter River, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by Christine
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at Carwoola, NSW - 26 Feb 2023 by trevorpreston
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Cotter River, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by Christine
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Stromlo, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by KorinneM
Oreixenica orichora (Spotted Alpine Xenica) at Cotter River, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by Ned_Johnston
Oreixenica kershawi (Striped Xenica) at Cotter River, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by Christine
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Stromlo, ACT - 26 Feb 2023 by KorinneM
Oreixenica orichora (Spotted Alpine Xenica) at Cotter River, ACT - 25 Feb 2023 by Ned_Johnston
Heteronympha paradelpha (Spotted Brown) at Cotter River, ACT - 25 Feb 2023 by Christine
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Pialligo, ACT - 25 Feb 2023 by HelenCross
Heteronympha solandri (Solander's Brown) at Cotter River, ACT - 25 Feb 2023 by Christine
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Cotter River, ACT - 25 Feb 2023 by Christine
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Ainslie, ACT - 25 Feb 2023 by Hejor1
Jalmenus sp. (genus) (An unidentified hairstreak butterfly) at Ainslie, ACT - 25 Feb 2023 by Hejor1
Ogyris olane (Broad-margined Azure) at Pialligo, ACT - 25 Feb 2023 by DPRees125
Deudorix diovis (Bright Cornelian) at Woonona, NSW - 25 Feb 2023 by LeighRoswen
Danaus plexippus (Monarch) at Penrose, NSW - 25 Feb 2023 by Aussiegall
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Paddys River, ACT - 25 Feb 2023 by JohnBundock
Geitoneura acantha (Ringed Xenica) at Booth, ACT - 25 Feb 2023 by KMcCue
Heteronympha penelope (Shouldered Brown) at Kosciuszko National Park, NSW - 25 Feb 2023 by JohnGiacon
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Booth, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by KMcCue
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Lyons, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by ran452
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Latham, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by LD12
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Cook, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by Tammy
Papilio anactus (Dainty Swallowtail) at Wanniassa, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by JohnBundock
Papilio anactus (Dainty Swallowtail) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by Christine
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Mongarlowe River - 24 Feb 2023 by arjay
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by Christine
Erina hyacinthina (Varied Dusky-blue) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by Christine
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by Christine
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at O'Connor, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by ConBoekel
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at O'Connor, ACT - 24 Feb 2023 by ConBoekel

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