Category Archives: Butterflies

Leafwing

Leafwing

(Doleschallia bisaltide)

Also known as Australian Leafwing, the Leafwing butterfly is usually found in lowland rainforest, where the usual larval food plant grows as a small herb in the ground layer as well as suburban gardens in Brisbane. Adults often fly in the adjacent woodland and open-forest but do not appear to breed in these habitats.

Host Plant:

The Native Love flower, (Pseuderanthemum variable), a plant whose natural habitat is the floor of rainforest or wet eucalyptus forest of northern and eastern Australia, north of Bega, New South Wales. Common names include night and afternoon, pastel flower and love flower.

This plant can also host the Blue Argus and Varied Eggfly butterflies which are also depicted on this sign.

Learn more about the Leafwing in the book entitled Create More Butterflies by Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke which is available from Earthling Enterprises

Large Grass-yellow

Large Grass-yellow

(Eurema hecabe)

Also known as Common Grass-yellow, the Large Grass-yellow is found in a wide variety of habitats especially savannah woodland and open country where larval food plants grow.

Host Plant:

The Breynia (Breynia oblongifolia), which can be a shrub or a small tree.

Learn more about the Large Grass-yellow in the book entitled Create More Butterflies by Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke which is available from Earthling Enterprises

Glasswing

Glasswing

(Acraea Andromacha)

Glasswing is found in West Irian, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and Australia where it occurs in Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Also known as the Little Greasy or Small Greasy butterfly, it belongs to the Nymphalidae family.

Host Plant:

The Spade Flower (Hybanthus stellarioides), an annual herb to 30 cm high; and the Blunt-leaved Passion Vine (Passiflora aurantia), a tendril climber.

Learn more about the Glasswing

Fuscous Swallowtail (on Pink Limeberry)

Fuscous Swallowtail

(Graphium choredon)

Fuscous Swallowtail is also known as the Northern Citrus butterfly, the Capaneus butterfly and the Canopus butterfly. It inhabits drier rainforests and monsoon forests (vine forest and deciduous vine thicket), mainly in coastal and subcoastal lowlands from Cape York Peninsular to Northern New South Wales where the native food plants grow.

Host Plant:

Pink Lime Berry tree , (Glycosmis trifoliata). This plant can also host the Orchard Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio aegeus) which is depicted on this sign.

Learn more about the Fuscous Swallowtail in the book entitled Create More Butterflies by Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke which is available from Earthling Enterprises

Eastern Dusk-flat

Eastern Dusk-flat

(Chaetocneme beata)

The Eastern Dusk-flat is also known as the Common Redeye. Usually found in North Queensland rainforests as well as suburban areas of Brisbane. Mature specimens are active at dusk or dawn.

Host Plant:

Bolwarra, (Eupomatia laurina), also known as the Native Guava or Copper Laurel, can be a shrub or a small tree ranging in size from 3 to 8 metres high, and is found in Eastern Australia and New Guinea.

Learn more about the Eastern Dusk-flat in the book entitled Create More Butterflies by Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke which is available from Earthling Enterprises

Dainty Swallowtail

Dainty Swallowtail

(Papilio anactus)

The Dainty Swallowtail butterfly is very widespread in eastern Australia. It is Australia’s smallest Swallowtail butterfly. Originally only found in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, due to the growing of citrus trees (a food plant for this species caterpillars), it has spread to South Australia. Also known as Dingy Swallowtail or Small Citrus Butterfly.

Host Plant:

Native Finger Lime, (Citrus australasica), a large shrub to a small tree up to 6 metres high. This plant can also host the Orchard Swallowtail and Fuscous Swallowtail butterflies which is also depicted on this sign.

Learn more about the Dainty Swallowtail in the book entitled Create More Butterflies by Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke which is available from Earthling Enterprises

Common Pencil-Blue (on Tuckeroo)

Common Pencil-blue

(Candalides absimilis)

Also known as the Pencilled Blue, Common Pencil-blue is found along the east coast of Australia, including Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria, usually on the edges of rainforest and gallery forest as well as coastal eucalypt open-forest and suburban gardens in Brisbane and Sydney where larval food plants are established. Has rapid flight, especially the males.

Host Plant:

Tuckeroo tree, (Cupaniopsis anacardioides), a species of flowering tree that is native to eastern and northern Australia. Also known as carrotwood, beach tamarind and green-leaved tamarind, it can reach 10 metres in height. This plant can also host the Indigo Flash butterfly which is also depicted on this sign.

Learn more about the Common Pencil-blue in the book entitled Create More Butterflies by Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke which is available from Earthling Enterprises

Common Pencil-blue (on native Wisteria)

Common Pencil-blue

(Candalides absimilis)

Also known as the Pencilled Blue, the Common Pencil-blue is found along the east coast of Australia, including Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria, usually on the edges of rainforest and gallery forest as well as coastal eucalypt open-forest and suburban gardens in Brisbane and Sydney where larval food plants are established. Has rapid flight, especially the males.

Host Plant:

Native Wisteria, (Callerya megasperma), a species of vine native to eastern Australia. This plant can also host the Narrow-banded Awl butterfly which is also depicted on this sign.

Learn more about the Common Pencil-blue in the book entitled Create More Butterflies by Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke which is available from Earthling Enterprises

Common Pencil-Blue (on Blackbean)

Common Pencil-blue

(Candalides absimilis)

Also known as the Pencilled Blue, the Common Pencil-blue is found along the east coast of Australia, including Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria, usually on the edges of rainforest and gallery forest as well as coastal eucalypt open-forest and suburban gardens in Brisbane and Sydney where larval food plants are established. Has rapid flight, especially the males.

Host Plant:

Black Bean Tree, (Castanospermum australe), or Moreton Bay Chestnut, a large evergreen tree that grows to 40 metres, but usually is much smalller. It is found in Queensland and New South Wales.

Learn more about the Common Pencil-blue in the book entitled Create More Butterflies by Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke which is available from Earthling Enterprises