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 79 of 131 - image sightings only

Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Cook, ACT - 2 Sep 2021 by Tammy
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Kambah, ACT - 1 Sep 2021 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Symonston, ACT - 1 Sep 2021 by RobParnell
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Tennent, ACT - 26 Aug 2021 by JohnBundock
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Castle Creek, VIC - 22 Aug 2021 by Kyliegw
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Majura, ACT - 14 Aug 2021 by jbromilow50
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 14 Aug 2021 by Paul4K
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Boro, NSW - 13 Aug 2021 by Paul4K
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Tuggeranong DC, ACT - 13 Aug 2021 by RAllen
Junonia hedonia (Chocolate Argus) at Cranbrook, QLD - 8 Aug 2021 by TerryS
Tirumala hamata (Blue Tiger) at Cranbrook, QLD - 8 Aug 2021 by TerryS
Erina hyacinthina (Varied Dusky-blue) at Moruya, NSW - 3 Aug 2021 by LisaH
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Acton, ACT - 2 Aug 2021 by RodDeb
Junonia hedonia (Chocolate Argus) at Cranbrook, QLD - 9 Jul 2021 by TerryS
Acraea terpsicore (Tawny Coster) at Cranbrook, QLD - 9 Jul 2021 by TerryS
Melanitis leda (Evening Brown) at Tinbeerwah, QLD - 5 Jul 2021 by Liam.m
Eurema smilax (Small Grass-yellow) at Tibooburra, NSW - 4 Jul 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Danaus petilia (Lesser wanderer) at Tibooburra, NSW - 4 Jul 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Tuggeranong DC, ACT - 29 Jun 2021 by RobParnell
Cupha prosope (Bordered Rustic) at Cranbrook, QLD - 19 Jun 2021 by TerryS
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Goulburn, NSW - 16 Jun 2021 by Rixon
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Red Hill, ACT - 16 Jun 2021 by RangerJim
Acraea terpsicore (Tawny Coster) at Mount Louisa, QLD - 13 Jun 2021 by TerryS
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Bonython, ACT - 30 May 2021 by RodDeb
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at WREN Reserves - 30 May 2021 by Kyliegw
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Boro, NSW - 28 May 2021 by Paul4K
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Mulloon, NSW - 23 May 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Tuggeranong DC, ACT - 23 May 2021 by HelenCross
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 22 May 2021 by jbromilow50
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Kambah, ACT - 22 May 2021 by RodDeb
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Forde, ACT - 20 May 2021 by jbromilow50
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Murrumbateman, NSW - 20 May 2021 by davobj
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 19 May 2021 by KMcCue
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 19 May 2021 by MB
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 19 May 2021 by KMcCue
Danaus plexippus (Monarch) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 17 May 2021 by WendyEM
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Greenway, ACT - 16 May 2021 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Cook, ACT - 13 May 2021 by Tammy
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Cook, ACT - 13 May 2021 by Tammy
Acraea andromacha (Glasswing) at Acton, ACT - 9 May 2021 by TimL
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Goulburn, NSW - 9 May 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Danaus plexippus (Monarch) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 7 May 2021 by WendyEM
Danaus plexippus (Monarch) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 7 May 2021 by WendyEM
Danaus plexippus (Monarch) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 7 May 2021 by WendyEM
Papilio anactus (Dainty Swallowtail) at Higgins, ACT - 4 May 2021 by AlisonMilton
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at West Wodonga, VIC - 2 May 2021 by Kyliegw
Danaus affinis (Marsh Tiger) at Town Common, QLD - 2 May 2021 by TerryS
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Holt, ACT - 2 May 2021 by KMcCue
Acraea terpsicore (Tawny Coster) at Town Common, QLD - 1 May 2021 by TerryS
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Crooked Corner, NSW - 1 May 2021 by Milly
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Tuggeranong DC, ACT - 1 May 2021 by Kristy
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Theodore, ACT - 28 Apr 2021 by AlisonMilton
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Theodore, ACT - 28 Apr 2021 by KMcCue
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 28 Apr 2021 by Dominique
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 27 Apr 2021 by RodDeb
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Tennent, ACT - 27 Apr 2021 by RodDeb
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Tennent, ACT - 25 Apr 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Graphium macleayanum (Macleay's Swallowtail) at Wog Wog, NSW - 24 Apr 2021 by BIrdsinCanberra
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Holt, ACT - 24 Apr 2021 by Tammy
Trapezites iacchoides (Silver-studded Ochre) at Pambula Beach, NSW - 24 Apr 2021 by KylieWaldon
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Duffy, ACT - 22 Apr 2021 by MatthewFrawley
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Downer, ACT - 20 Apr 2021 by dimageau
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 18 Apr 2021 by AndyRussell
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Cranbrook, QLD - 18 Apr 2021 by TerryS
Yoma sabina (Lurcher) at Cranbrook, QLD - 17 Apr 2021 by TerryS
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Forde, ACT - 17 Apr 2021 by HarveyPerkins
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Hughes, ACT - 16 Apr 2021 by JackyF
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Conder, ACT - 16 Apr 2021 by michaelb
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Acton, ACT - 16 Apr 2021 by JanetRussell
Graphium macleayanum (Macleay's Swallowtail) at Acton, ACT - 16 Apr 2021 by DonTaylor
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at Kambah, ACT - 15 Apr 2021 by tpreston
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 15 Apr 2021 by galah681
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 15 Apr 2021 by galah681
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Tennent, ACT - 13 Apr 2021 by RodDeb
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Cook, ACT - 13 Apr 2021 by Tammy
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Gundary, NSW - 12 Apr 2021 by tpreston
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at Gundary, NSW - 12 Apr 2021 by tpreston
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Holt, ACT - 11 Apr 2021 by KMcCue
Tisiphone abeona (Varied Sword-grass Brown) at Moruya, NSW - 11 Apr 2021 by LisaH
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Dunlop, ACT - 8 Apr 2021 by tpreston
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at Dunlop, ACT - 8 Apr 2021 by tpreston
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Murrumbateman, NSW - 7 Apr 2021 by SimoneC
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Downer, ACT - 6 Apr 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Symonston, ACT - 6 Apr 2021 by RodDeb
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Symonston, ACT - 6 Apr 2021 by RodDeb
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Paddys River, ACT - 6 Apr 2021 by JohnBundock
Jalmenus sp. (genus) (An unidentified hairstreak butterfly) at O'Connor, ACT - 6 Apr 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Mount Clear, ACT - 5 Apr 2021 by JaneR
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) at Conder, ACT - 5 Apr 2021 by michaelb
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Isabella Plains, ACT - 4 Apr 2021 by michaelb
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Isabella Plains, ACT - 4 Apr 2021 by michaelb
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Stromlo, ACT - 4 Apr 2021 by Roman
Jalmenus ictinus (Stencilled Hairstreak) at Wanganella, NSW - 4 Apr 2021 by Liam.m
Acraea terpsicore (Tawny Coster) at Garbutt, QLD - 3 Apr 2021 by TerryS
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Melba, ACT - 3 Apr 2021 by kasiaaus
Danaus affinis (Marsh Tiger) at Garbutt, QLD - 3 Apr 2021 by TerryS
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Conder, ACT - 3 Apr 2021 by michaelb
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Kambah, ACT - 3 Apr 2021 by Tammy
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Tuggeranong DC, ACT - 3 Apr 2021 by Tammy
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Kambah, ACT - 2 Apr 2021 by MatthewFrawley

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1,903,523 sightings of 21,215 species in 9,380 locations from 13,060 contributors
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