Australian Butterfly Conservation

10/04/2026

25 butterflies on the wing at Moggill Conservation Park yesterday, and a fantastic variety to boot. Warm temperatures have extended the joy of butterflying. And the weekend promises to be ideal to have another go this season.
The species encountered on 9th April are: Acraea andromacha (Glasswing); Appias paulina (Yellow Albatross); Belenois java (Caper White); Catopsilia pomona (Lemon MIgrant); Catopyrops florinda (Speckled Line-blue); Cepora perimale (Caper Gull); Charaxes sempronius (Tailed Emperor): Cressida cressida (Clearwing Swallowtail); Cupha prosope (Bordered Rustic): Delias argenthona (Scarlet Jezebel); Delias nigrina (Black Jezebel); Eirmocides absimilis (Glistening Pencil-blue): Elodina angulipennis (Southern Pearl-white); Erina erina (Small Dusky-blue): Euploea corinna (Common Crow): Eurema brigitta (No-brand Grass-yellow); Graphium anthedon choredon ((Blue Triangle); Hypolimnas bolina (Varied Eggfly); Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail): Papilio anactus (Dainty Swallowtail); Papilio demoleus (Chequered Swallowtail); Protographium leosthenes (Four-barred Swordtail); Suniana sunias (Wide-brand Grass-dart); Timoconia peron (Dingy Grass-skipper).
A big thank you to Cliff Meyer who has supported us again in our endeavours, and here in challenging terrain.
Clockwise from top left: P. anactus, P. demoleus, P. aegeus; P. leosthenes; Ch. sempronius; C. prosope
Images by DM - Deborah Metters, PC - Peter Chew; SA - Sylvia Alexander

09/04/2026

22/03/2026

22/03/2026

BACK ON-THE-WING

Australia has a few similar-but-different 'Emperor Moths' [Saturniidae] – which can make identifying them a little tricky – particularly as their colouring and markings can vary significantly. Here are 5 of the most widespread and encountered:

The 'Emperor Gum-Moth' is by far the most widespread – being found over most of Australia and New Zealand. It's distinguishing markings are two 'white triangles' on the leading edge of its forewings. The 'Helena Gum-Moth' looks very similar – although it lacks the white triangles.

These impressively large moths usually create quite a stir when they are found – although they are not as frequently encountered as they used to be – due to decades of frantic land clearance. If you find one of these Emperor Moths please take a photo of it and upload it to iNaturalist – so that your sighting can help create a better understanding of their present range.

20/03/2026

URGENT INTERVENTION REQUIRED
Darwin’s northern ‘Lee Point’ is one of Australia’s most important biodiversity ‘hot-spots’ - so of course it’s going to be bulldozed!!! (before Australia has sufficient environmental protections to conserve it) Lee Point is literally one of the most significant landing points for migratory birds, butterflies, moths… Once it’s gone - it will be lost forever!
Anthony Albanese Murray Watt - Senator for Queensland Chris Bowen MP Tanya Plibersek Zali Steggall Threatened Species Commissioner

18/03/2026

Does your local Council do ‘Native Plant Giveaways’? 🪴

17/03/2026

The Chequered Copper (Lucia limbaria) is an attractive low-flying native Australian butterfly.

They can be very inconspicuous – although at other times the brightly coloured males will display themselves openly as they ‘sun’ themselves on patches of bare ground.

☘️ The Chequered Copper is a foodplant-specific butterfly. Its caterpillars ONLY eat Oxalis – a native, low-growing, clover-like plant which often grows on disturbed and unimproved land such as roadside verges and wastelands. They can be absent from suitable locations for many years. When they do appear they may quickly establish a colony – but they will move-on again just as quickly – just like nomads.

Despite being found over much of the south-east of the continent they are never reliably found anywhere for long – as they also have a short lifecycle and short-lived time on-the-wing. They sporadically visit hilltops – and in favourable years may even congregate in large numbers. They are rare in some areas – particularly in South Australia.

[A map, specific food-plant and ant info is in the comments]

16/03/2026

If you live anywhere in the southern half of Australia (including TAS, SA & WA) please look out for Bogong Moths, take a photo, and report your findings to one of the web-links on the Post

15/03/2026

CATERPILLARS ON YOUR CITRUS?

It's typically at this time of year that many Australians will discover caterpillars 'growing' on their Citrus.

These aren't just any caterpillars – they are likely to become one of Australia's most beautiful native Swallowtail Butterflies!

These Swallowtail's opportunistic 'adoption' of cultivated Citrus in gardens, and pots, presents a perfect opportunity for you to have these large and stunning butterflies in your patch – providing you don't spray or remove them.

Here is an identification chart with the 3 most widespread Citrus Swallowtails and their distinctively-marked caterpillars.

You also can help these native butterflies by making your friends and neighbours aware of them – by sharing this Post.

[A distribution map showing where they are found, and a list of the native and cultivated Citrus each uses, is in the Comments]

14/03/2026

The incredible transformation from tiny slug-like caterpillar (that also look like bird-poop?) into one of Australia’s largest and most impressive butterflies is not a tall tale but a fascinating true story that is repeated on many native and cultivated Citrus – 2 to 3 times each year.

All Swallowtail eggs are spherical and are typically laid one at a time – sometimes more than one on a leaf.

These caterpillars are completely harmless and don’t eat more than a few leaves before they are ready to hide away and turn into a chrysalis – to then completely transform into one of our most beautiful native butterflies (providing they don’t get poisoned by garden chemicals or eaten by one of their many predators)

Now is a great time to get a pesticide-free Citrus - from your local native plant nursery, garden centre or even by growing your own from a pip

14/03/2026

Having slept right through the crazy extremes of Australia's summer months the extraordinary 'Common Brown' females [right] should now be out and about – desperately seeking protein-rich nectar. Although females emerge in September [5-6 months ago!] they don't take to the wing [unless disturbed] and will find safe, sheltered places away from the desiccating sun and heat – or away from torrential rains and floods.

Only a few, well worn, males [left] will live long enough to see, and feed alongside the females when they become active.

Distribution map in Comments