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Moggill Creek

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BUTTERFLY SPECIES COMMONLY FOUND IN THE MOGGILL CREEK CATCHMENT

The photos in this list were taken in the catchment and are the copyright of either Ed Frazer and Dale Borgelt, as shown. The list has 4 categories:

1. Swallowtails

2. Whites and Yellows

3. Nymphs (Nymphalidae)

4. Blues, Skippers and Moths

1. SWALLOWTAILS  (Papilionindae)
Species  Common name and size
Scientific name
Other names

Similar species
also found in the catchment

Host plants (caterpillar)  Notes and recommended plantings
 
© Ed Frazer 
 
Blue Triangle (m) 60mm
Graphium sarpedon 
See Pale Triangle

Litsea reticulata
Cryptocarya spp
Clerodendron spp


Cinnamomum camphora


Beilschmiedia elliptica


B. obtusifolia


Geijera salicifolia


Neolitsea dealbata
Plant native laurels:

  • Cryptocarya spp
  • Bolly Gum (Litsea reticulata)
  • Hairy leaf Bolly Gum (Neolitsea dealbata)

The photo of the male shows him being amorous! He hides long feathery “hairs” in the upper margin of his hind wings.
These may help disperse pheromones to the female. 

 
© Dale Borgelt 

 

Blue Triangle (f) 60mm
Graphium sarpedon 
 
© Ed Frazer  
Chequered Swallowtail (m) 75mm
Papilio demoleus 
None  Cullen tenax
Occasionally Citrus australasica 
Plant Emu foot (Cullen tenax) in full sun

Found along creeks in drier areas 

 

© Ed Frazer 
 
Chequered Swallowtail (f) 75mm
Papilio demoleus 

Male
© Ed Frazer
Clearwing Swallowtail (m) 80mm
Cressida cressida
Greasy Swallowtail
Big Greasy
See Dainty Swallowtail
See Glasswing
Aristolochia meridionalis
Pararistolochia praevenosa
Plant Birdwing Butterfly Vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa)

Males fly slowly over breeding areas looking for females

The females fly close to the ground and come to rest frequently

Common butterfly

 

  

Female
© Ed Frazer

 

Clearwing Swallowtail (f) 70mm
Cressida cressida
Greasy Swallowtail
Big Greasy
 

© Dale Borgelt 
 

© Ed Frazer

 

Dainty Swallowtail (m & f) 70mm
Papilio inactus
Dingy Swallowtail
Small Citrus Butterfly
See Clearwing Swallowtail above Citrus australis

Geijera parviflora
Plant Australian Round Lime (Citrus australis)
© Dale Borgelt
 
Four-barred Swordtail (m) 53mm
Protographium leosthenes
None Melodorum leichhardtii Plant Zig Zag Vine (Melodorum leichhardtii )

Can also be grown as a flowering and fruiting shrub

Female lighter brown, similar pattern

 

© Ed Frazer
Fuscous Swallowtail (m) 85mm
Papilio fuscus
Tailed Citrus Butterfly
See Orchard Swallowtail below Micromelum minutuum

M. ovatifoliolata
Zanthoxylum brachyacanthum

 

Plant Lime Berry (Micromelum minutum ) 

Common after a wet season. Fly slowly and found often near citrus trees

 

© Dale Borgelt 
 

© Ed Frazer 

 
Orchard Swallowtail (m) 102mm
Papilio aegus
Orchard Butterfly
See Fuscous Swallowtail above Citrus australis

C.australasica


Flindersia bennettiana


F. australis


F. collina


Geijera salicifolia
Melicope micrococca
Zanthoxylum smithii
Z. brachyacanthum
Recommended plants:

  • Crow’s Ash (Flindersia australis )
  • Bennett’s Ash (F. bennettiana)
  • Leopard Ash (F. collina) 

Common

Often seen in gardens with Citrus trees

 


© Ed Frazer 
 
Orchard Swallowtail (f) 110mm See Clearwing Swallowtail
See Dainty Swallowtail
Female in photo is laying eggs on an Orange tree
  
© Dale Borgelt 
 

© Ed Frazer 

Pale Triangle (m) 59mm
Graphium euryplus
Pale Blue Triangle
Pale Green Triangle

 

See Blue Triangle Melodorum leichhardtii

Polyalthia nitidissima

Annona reticulata
Recommended plants:

  • Zig Zag Vine (Melodorum leichhardtii)
  • Canary Beech (Polyalthia nitidissima) 

Newly emerged can be so blue that they can be mistaken for Blue Triangles

Their colour fades after just a few days, (shown in the second photo)

2. WHITES AND YELLOWS (Pierinae)
 Species  Common Name and size
Scientific name
Other names
 Similar species
also found in the catchment
 Host plants (caterpillar)   Notes and recommended plantings

 



Females

Males
© Ed Frazer

 

 

Black Jezebel (m & f) 56mm
Common Jezebel
Delias negrina
See Jezebel Nymph (Mynes
geoffroyi
) in the Nymphs section
Several mistletoes Not common in the catchment. Migrates up from NSW in the Autumn and often flies with the more common Scarlet Jezebel. Appears black when flying, in contrast with the Scarlet Jezebel, which looks white when flying
 

© Ed Frazer

 

Cabbage White (m & f) 44mm
Pieris rapae
See Pearl Whites Brassicas Pest species introduced
 

 
© Ed Frazer
 
Caper Gull (m & f) 43mm
Cepora perimale
Australian Gull
Northern Gull
See Yellow Albatross female
See Caper White below
Capparis arborea

C. velutina
Recommended plants:

  • Caper Bush (Capparis arborea)
  • Velvet-leaved Caper Berry (Capparis velutina)

Has more spots than Yellow Albatross female


Male 
© Ed Frazer

 

Caper White (m) 55mm
Belenois java
See Jezebels Capparis arborea Plant Caper Bush (Capparis arborea) 

The strong yellow colour shown in the female photo
fades quickly after hatching

Female 
© Ed Frazer
Caper White (f) 55mm
Belenois java
 

© Ed Frazer

 

Large Grass-yellow (m & f) 37mm
Eurema hecabe
Common Grass-yellow
See Small Grass-yellow Acacia irrorata
A. maidenii
A. melanoxylon
Breynia oblongifolia
Senna acclinis
Sesbania cannabina
Plant Wattle (Acacia spp)
 

© Ed Frazer
 
Lemon Migrant (m) 58mm
Catopsilla pomona
Cassia Butterfly
White Migrant
See Yellow Migrant
Cassia spp
Senna spp
Breed only in the wet season

Very large migrations take place during warmer months

Present and common most of the year in the catchment

 © Ed Frazer
 
Lemon Migrant (f) 58mm
Catopsilla pomona
Cassia Butterfly

© Ed Frazer
 
No-brand Grass-yellow 36mm
Eurema brigitta 
See Small Grass-yellow Chamaecrista nomame One of the three common Grass-Yellows in the Catchment

Common in pasture areas
 

© Ed Frazer
© Ed Frazer

 

Scarlet Jezebel
Delias argenthona
Northern Jezebel
Spotted Jezebel
See Jezebel Nymph (Mynes
geoffroyi
) in the Nymphs section
Several Mistletoe species Retain trees with Mistletoe

Display red and yellow colours when wings folded

Underside is black and white

 

© Ed Frazer

 

Small Grass-yellow (m & f) 33mm
Eurima smilax
See Large Grass-yellow Cassia spp
Senna spp
Grass-yellows are easily recognised by their size and colour but individual species are difficult to identify in the field
 

© Ed Frazer 
 
Southern Pearl-white (m) 38mm
Elodina angulipennis
Common Pearl-white
Narrow-winged Pearl-white Capparis arborea 
C. velutina 
Plant Caper Bush (Capparis arborea) 

© Ed Frazer
Southern Pearl-white (f) 38mm
Elodina angulipennis
Common Pearl-white
 

© Ed Frazer 

 

Yellow Albatross (m) 53mm
Appias paulina
Common Albatross
See Cabbage White Drypetes deplanchei Plant Yellow Tulip (Drypetes deplanchei)
 

© Ed Frazer 

 

Yellow Albatross (f) 53mm
Appias paulina
Common Albatross
See Caper Gull Female is very similar to the Caper Gull

© Dale Borgelt
 
Yellow Migrant (m & f) 56mm
Catopsilia gorgophone
See Lemon Migrant Senna spp  Yellow Migrant has white upper forewing

This species has re-established in the Catchment in recent years, especially in the Gap Creek Road area

3. NYMPHS (Nymphalidae)
 Species
Common name and size

Scientific name

Other names

Similar species
also found in the catchment 
 Host plants (caterpillar) Notes and recommended plantings 
 
 
© Ed Frazer
 
© Ed Frazer

 

Australian Painted Lady (m & f)
43mm
Vanessa kershawi
None Chrysocephalum apiculatum
Helichrysum apicualtum
Plant everlasting Yellow Buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum)

Very common

© Ed Frazer
Blue Tiger (m & f) 72mm
Tirumala hamata
None Secamone elliptica
Plant Cork Vine (Secamone elliptica)

Large migrations of the species occur in some years

In other years is it not common in the Catchment

 

© Ed Frazer

© Dale Borgelt
Border Rustic (m & f) 53mm
Cupha prospe
None Scolopia braunii Not a common species in the Catchment but has made a comeback with the planting of the Flintwood Tree (Scolopia braunii) on several properties

© Ed Frazer
 
Brown Ringlet (m & f) 31mm
Hypocysta metirius
Common Ringlet
See Grey Ringlet
See Orange-streaked Ringlet
Cynodon dactylon

Oplismenus hirtellus
Ottochloa gracillima
Green Couch (Cynodon dactylon) is widespread in the catchment so no planting is needed
 


© Ed Frazer

 

Common Crow (m & f) 72mm
Euploea core
Oleander Butterfly
See Crow Moth
See White-banded Plane
Carrisa ovata

Ficus rubiginosa


Ficus virens


Marsdenia fraseri


Parsonsia brisbanensis


P. straminea
Secamone elliptica
Recommended plants:

  • Currant Bush (Carissa ovata)
  • Rock Fig (Ficus rubiginosa)
  • White Fig (Ficus virens)

Very common and adapted to introduced Apocynaceae (Oleanders and Frangipani)


© Dale Borgelt
 


© Ed Frazer

 

 
Evening Brown (m & f) 63mm

Melanitis leda
See Leafwing Themeda triandra Plant Sedges (Carex spp) in damp areas

Some C. appressa varieties are suitable in drier areas

Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) is a perennial tussock and can be grown from seed

The Evening Brown lies in the leaf litter during daytime and is well camouflaged

If disturbed it flies a short distance and then settles


© Ed Frazer
 
Glasswing (m & f) 56mm
Acraea andromacha
Little Greasy
Small Greasy
See Clearwing Swallowtail Passiflora aurantia
P. herbertiana


Afrohybanthus stellarioides
Fly continuously just above the ground

Caterpillars feed on exotic passionfruit

 

© Ed Frazer

 

Grey Ringlet (m & f) 31mm
Hypocysta pseudirius
Dingy Ringlet
See Brown Ringlet Themeda triandra Lays eggs on Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra)
 
 

© Dale Borgelt
 
Jezebel Nymph (m & f) 57mm
Mynes geoffroyi guerini
White Nymph
Black and Red-banded Jezebels Dendrocnide photinophylla

Pipturus argenteus
Plant Native Mulberry (Pipturus argenteus)

Often found along streams

 

© Dale Borgelt
Leafwing (m & f) 65mm
Doleschallia bisaltide
Australian Leafwing
See Evening Brown Brunoniella spp

Pseuderanthemum variabile
Plant Love Flower (Pseuderanthemum variabile), a ground
cover from the African Violet family
 


© Ed Frazer

 

Lesser Wanderer (m & f) 60mm
Danaus chrysippus petilia
See Monarch
Daniad Eggfly
Tylophora grandiflora

Gomphocarpus physocarpus
Thrives on the exotic Swan Plant (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) and introduced milkweeds
 
 

© Ed Frazer

 

Meadow Argus (m & f) 43mm
Junonia villida calybe
None Goodenia rotundifolia
Plantago spp
Verbena spp 
Does well on a number of introduced garden plants and weeds so no need for further planting of host plants
 
© Ed Frazer

 

Monarch (m & f) 93mm
Danaus plexippus
Wanderer Butterfly
Milkweed Butterfly
See Lesser Wanderer Gomphocarpus fruticosus

Gomphocarpus physocarpus


Asclepias curassavica
Breeds on Swan Plant (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) and Milkweeds introduced into Australia

© Ed Frazer
Orange-streaked Ringlet 35mm
Hypocysta irius
Northern Ringlet
 
See Orange Ringlet below Grasses Found in grassed areas adjacent to forest

Has larger eyespots than other Ringlets

© Ed Frazer
 
Orange Ringlet (m & f) 30mm
Hypocysta adiante
Dusky-bordered Ringlet
See Orange-streaked Ringlet above Themeda triandra Plant Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) and other grasses

© Ed Frazer
 
Purple Crow (m & f) 60mm
Euploea tulliolus
Eastern Brown Crow
None Trophus scandens subsp scandens Plant Burny Vine (Trophus scandens), a large woody climber from the fig family with red edible fruit
 

© Ed Frazer
 
Tailed Emperor (m & f) 85mm
Polyura sempronius
Four-tail
None Mostly Mimosaceae and Caesalpiniaceae
Brachychiton
Celtis spp.
Caterpillars feed on a wide range of plants but favour Wattles, Cassias and Sennas

Very large butterfly that looks more like a Swallowtail than a Nymph

Widespread but not common


Gender indeterminate

© Ed Frazer
 


Male
© Ed Frazer

Varied Eggfly (m) 76mm
Hypolimnas bolina
Common Eggfly
Daniad Eggfly (m) outerside view Alternanthera denticulata

Pseuderanthemum variabile


Sida spp
Hygrophila angustifolia
Plenty of host food in the area so no need for plantings

Male smaller and differs substantially from female

Males establish territories on edge of bush close to larval food plants



Female

© Ed Frazer

 

Varied Eggfly (f) 86mm
Hypolimnas bolina
Common Eggfly
Daniad Eggfly (m) underside view Females usually found flying near food plants
 

© Ed Frazer

 

White-banded Plane (m & f) 57mm
Phaedyma shepherdi
Common Aeroplane
See Common Crow
See Crow Moth
Aphananthe philippinensis

Brachychiton acerifolius


Celtis paniculata


Ehretia acuminata
Recommended plants:

  • Native Elm (Aphananthe philippinensis)
  • Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)

For a smaller tree use Native Celtis (Celtis paniculata)

Distinctive gliding flight


© Ed Frazer
 

© Ed Frazer

Yellow Admiral (m & f) 50mm
Vanessa itea
Australian Admiral
None Pipturus argenteus

Urtica incisa
Plant Native Mulberry (Pipturus argenteus)

Found around creeks and damp slopes

Also frequently found heads down on rocks or trees in forested areas

4. BLUES (Lycaenidae), SKIPPERS (Hesperiidae) and MOTHS
 Species
Common name and size
Scientific name
Other names

Similar species
also found in the catchment
 Host plants (caterpillar) Notes and recommended planting 
BLUES
 

© Ed Frazer

 

Cycad Blue (m & f) 24mm
Theclinesthes onycha
Wattle Blue (Theclinesthes miskini) Macrozamia spp and exotic Cycads Feeds on the newly emerged leaves of a wide range of
cycads

Quite destructive

Larvae occasionally attended by ants

Hint: if Cycad Blue caterpillars are destroying fresh shoots on your garden cycads, check the new fronds daily and scrape the eggs off with your fingernail. For more hints about control see
Annette McFarland’s gardening website


© Ed Frazer

 

Common Grass Blue (m & f) 23mm
Zizina labradus
Common Blue
Spotted Grass-Blue Wide range of legumes including garden
beans and lucerne
Larvae occasionally attended by ants

© Ed Frazer

 

Common Pencilled-Blue (f) 31mm
Candalides absimilis
Pencil Blue
Dark Pencil-Blue Alectryon coriaceus

A. subcinerus
Atalaya salicifolia
Brachychiton acerifolius


B. populneus


Callerya megasperma


Cupaniopsis anacardioides
Flagellaria indica
Harpullia pendula
Macadamia spp
Caterpillars eat a wide range of plants including:

  • Wild Quince (A coriaceus)
  • Flame Tree (B. acerifolius)
  • Kurrajong (B. populneus)
  • Native Wisteria (C. megasperma)
  • Both species of Queensland nut (Macadamia spp)

© Ed Frazer

 

Indigo Flash
Rapala varuna
None Alectron tomentosus
Alphitonia excelsa
Cupaniopsis anacaroides
Jagera pseudorhus
Feeds on flowers and flower buds and a wide range of plants including Foam Bark (Jagera pseudorhus) and Lychees (Litchi chinensis)
 


© Ed Frazer

 

 

Plumbago Blue 23mm
Leptotes plinius
Zebra Blue
Plumbago Argus
None Plumbago zelanica Garden plumbagos are also host plants
 

© Ed Frazer
 

© Ed Frazer

Small Dusky-blue 22mm
Candalides erinus
See Varied Dusky-blue Cassytha filiformus Dodder Laurel (Cassytha filiformis) is a parasitic vine that can smother plants

It has small fruit that is eaten by Mistletoebirds

 

© Dale Borgelt

 

Small Green-banded Blue (m) 30mm
Psychonotis caelius
None Alphitonia excelsa Plant Red Ash (also known as Soap Tree) (Alphitonia excelsa)

Found in wet shady areas

 

© Ed Frazer

 

 

Varied Dusky-blue 28mm
Candalides hyacinthina
Common Dusky-blue
See Small Dusky-blue Cassytha spp. Dodder Laurel (Cassytha fiiformis), recorded in the MCC,  is a hemiparasitic vine and probably the local host of this species
SKIPPERS (Hesperiidae)
 

 

© Ed Frazer

 

Dingy Grass-skipper 30mm
Taxidia peron
Large Dingy-skipper
Other Grass-skippers Various grasses Found in the same long grass areas as the Grass-darts but
much larger and less colourful
 

© Ed Frazer

 

Narrow-brand Grass-dart (m & f)
15mm
See Wide-brand Grass-dart Grasses Very small species found in open grass areas adjacent to
Eucalypt forest
 
© Ed Frazer
 
Pale Orange Darter 29mm
Telicota colon
Pale Darter
Southern Sedge-darter Panicum
Phragmites
Sorghum
Larger than the Grass-darts

Upper-side wings lighter

  

 

Male

 

© Ed Frazer

 

Splendid Ochre (m) 38mm
Trapezites symmomus
Symmomus Ochre
Ochres Lomandra longifolia Plant Spiny-headed Mat Rush (Lomandra longifolia)

Much larger than most other Skippers

 

 

Female

 

© Ed Frazer
Splendid Ochre (f) 38mm
Trapezites symmomus
Symmomus Ochre
 

© Ed Frazer

 

Wide-brand Grass-dart (m) 22mm
Suniana sunias
Orange Dart
Dark Grass-dart Megathyrsus maximus  Found in open Eucalypt forest particularly in areas of long uncut grasses
 

© Ed Frazer

 

White-banded Grass-dart (m & f)
20mm
Taractrocera papyria
White Grass-dart
Large Yellow Grass-dart
No-brand Grass-dart
Carex polyantha
Cynodon dactylon
Imperata cylindrica
Microlaena stipoides
Poa labillardieri 
Found in areas of Bladey Grass, Couch, Tussock Grass and Sedges
MOTHS (Butterfly mimics and day-flying species) 
 

© Ed Frazer

 

Anthela sp. 70cm Several similar species Unknown Night flying

Adult does not feed

Caterpillar is hairy

© Ed Frazer
Arch Moth (m & f) 60mm
Bracca matutinata
Not known Has a resemblance to the endangered Laced Fritillary Butterfly, which also has many black spots.

Caterpillars are very colourful.

Night flying but found during the day in dull weather in rainforest


© Ed Frazer

 

Crow Moth (m & f) 45mm
Cruria donowani
See Common Crow Butterfly Hibbertia obtusifolia  Black, brown and green caterpillar feeds on Guinea Flower (Hibbertia obtusifolia)

Mimics the Crow Butterfly

Day flyer

 
© Ed Frazer
Heliotrope Moth (m & f) 40mm
Utetheisa pulchelloides
Salt and Pepper Moth
None Echium plantagineum

Heliotropium eurpaeum
Feeds on Patterson’s Curse (E. plantagineum), Heliotrope and several other Boraginaceae plants from which it obtains poisons

Day and night flying moth which looks like a butterfly when in flight

Migrates extensively, even to New Zealand

 

© Ed Frazer
 

© Ed Frazer

 

Joseph’s Coat Moth (f) 70mm
Agarista agricola
Painted Vine Moth
None Clematicissus opaca

Cayratia clematidea
Caterpillars are black and white with two yellow bands
 

© Ed Frazer

 

Magpie Moth
Nyctemera sp. 
Several similar species Crassocephalum crepidiodes  Black-banded caterpillar feeds on Fireweed (C. crepidiodes)

Wasp mimic

Day flyer

 

© Ed Frazer

 

Magpie Moth
Nyctemera secundiana 
Crassocephalum crepidiodes Larvae feed on Fireweed (C. crepidiodes)

Day flyer

 

© Ed Frazer

 

Orange-Spotted Tiger Moth  30mm
Ceryx guttulosa
None Lichens Mimics wasps

Found in Eucalypt woodlands and gardens

Caterpillars covered in dense black hairs

Day flyer


© Ed Frazer 
Rectangular-striped Noctuid Moth
Grammodes justa
Unknown Found in daylight in grassy areas
 

© Ed Frazer

 

White-banded Noctuid Moth (m & f)
70mm
None Unknown Adult moths attracted to rotten fruit

Common

Night flyer

 

© Ed Frazer

 

Yellow-spotted Tiger Moth 60mm
Agape chloropyga
None Ficus spp.  Grey caterpillar with fine hairs

 

Return to Catchment Field Guides

 


 

 

 

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