Butterflies of Bribie
Last updated: 2 April 2024
Bribie Island’s butterflies and moths are some of the most beautiful insects of our bushland and gardens. The metamorphosis that occurs during the life of a butterfly, from egg to caterpillar, from chrysalis to a winged creature of delight and beauty, is one of the most remarkable and dramatic transformations in the animal world. Some 343 species occur in Queensland. Nearly 100 butterfly species are recorded for Bribie Island and the neighbouring mainland but there are possibly many more and certainly a much greater number of moths still to be documented. The order of species is based on The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia (2016) by Michael Braby. Some common names have changed to reflect a more accurate description. We have relied heavily on Trevor Ford's Butterflies of Coastal SEQ (2012) for species recorded on Bribie and also known food plants. We don't have many good photographs of butterflies and moths so please help us.
Butterflies
Family: Papilionidae (Swallowtails)
FOUR-BARRED SWALLOWTAIL Protographium leosthenes
Uncommon local species, in dry vine forests and rainforest edges, straying into gardens. Main host plant is Zig-zag Vine Melodorum leichhardii.
MACLEAY'S SWALLOWTAIL Graphium macleayanus
Uncommon local species, in coastal rainforests. Host plants include Creek Wilga Geijera salicifolia, and native laurels, Cryptocarya, Cinnamonum and Corkbark Endiandra sieberi.
BLUE TRIANGLE Graphium sarpedon
Common blue breeding butterfly in summer. Gardens, rain forest edges, open forest. Host plants include native laurels Endiandra, Litsea and Neolitsea spp. and also the introduced Camphor Laurel.
PALE TRIANGLE (PALE GREEN TRIANGLE) Graphium eurypylus
Uncommon swallowtail in pale bluish-green. Host plant Zig-zag Vine Melodorum leichhardii.
DAINTY SWALLOWTAIL (DINGY SWALLOWTAIL) Papilio anactus
Common breeding swallowtail in parks, gardens, open forest and rainforest edges. Host plants include Creek Wilga Geijera salicifolia and native limes Citrus spp.
ORCHARD SWALLOWTAIL Papilio aegeus
The largest swallowtail. A big beautiful common butterfly in parks, gardens, orchards, open forest and rainforest edges. Host plants include orchard citrus (oranges and limes); Crowsash Flindersia spp and Cluster berry Micromelum minutum. Its large green caterpillars can damage garden citrus but please maintain the cycle of life and allow them to grow to maturity.
CHEQUERED SWALLOWTAIL Papilio demoleus sthenelus
Common swallowtail with distinctive pattern in open forest, woodlands and gardens. Flies fast, sometimes in large numbers. Host plants include Emu Foot Cullen tenax and other legumes.
CLEARWING SWALLOWTAIL (BIG GREASY) Cressida cressida
A common swallowtail in gardens, open forest, woodlands and rocky areas. The female’s wings are almost transparent. Host plants include Aristolochoia vines.
Family: Hesperiidae (Skippers)
NARROW-WINGED AWL (BROWN AWL) Badamia exclamationis
Common migratory butterfly. Visits parks and gardens from open forest areas. Host plants include Beach Almond Terminalia catappa.
CHROME AWL (COMMON BANDED AWL) Hasora chromus
Uncommon local butterfly. Favours littoral rainforests, vine forests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Peanut Tree Sterculia quadrifolia and Pongamia Millettia pinnata.
REGENT SKIPPER Euschemon rafflesia
Uncommon brightly coloured fast-flying species, usually found around its host plant, Wilkea spe., or in subcoastal rainforest and gardens. Can be confused with the similarly coloured day-flying Joseph’s Coat Moth.
EASTERN DUSK-FLAT Chaetocneme beata
Common but local skipper flying at dusk with sexual dimorphic colour. Prefers rainforest, wetter open forests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Cryptocarya, Litsea and Neolitsea spp.
ORANGE OCHRE (ELIENA SKIPPER) Trapezites eliena
Common but local skipper. Prefers open forests with matrushes Lomandra spp., its host food plant.
SPLENDID OCHRE (SYMMOMUS SKIPPER) Trapezites symmomus
Common but local skipper. Prefers rainforest margins, open forests, watercourses, parks and gardens. Host plants include Spinyhead Matrush Lomandra longifolia. Recorded Sandstone Point April 2024.
LILAC GRASS-SKIPPER (DOUBLEDAY’S SKIPPER) Toxidia doubledayi
Common brown skipper flying close to ground. Prefers grassy edges of wet sclerophyll forests. Host plants include beard grass Oplismenus spp. and other native grasses.
DINGY SKIPPER (DINGY GRASS-SKIPPER) Toxidia peron
Common brown skipper flying close to ground. Occurs in coastal open eucalypt forests and rainforest margins. Host plants include several native and introduced grasses.
EASTERN IRIS-SKIPPER (HALYSIA SKIPPER) Mesodina halyzia
Common but local brown skipper flying close to ground. Prefers wallum heathlands and heathy open eucalypt forests. Host plants include native iris Patersonia spp.
DINGY SWIFT Pelopidas agna
Common. Similar to Lyell’s Swift and probably impossible to separate in the field. Tends to fly low to the ground in coastal paperbark forests and eucalypt open forests. Main food plant is Large Bluegrass Ischaemum australe.
LYELL'S SWIFT Pelopidas lyelli
Common. Similar to Dingy Swift and probably impossible to separate in the field. Flies swiftly close to the ground, settles on flowers with wings open. Wide variety of habitats, from rainforest edges to open woodland with tall grass. Main food plants are various native grasses.
NARROW-BRAND GRASS-DART (COMMON DART) Ocybadistes flavovittata
Uncommon orange and brown dart usually flying close to ground. Occurs in coastal open eucalypt forests and woodlands. Host plants include Green Couch Cynodon dactylon and several native grasses.
GREEN GRASS-DART (YELLOW-BANDED DART) Ocybadistes walkeri
Common dart usually flying close to ground. Prefers coastal open eucalypt forests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Green Couch Cynodon dactylon and several native grasses and sedges Carex spp.
WIDE-BRAND GRASS-DART (ORANGE DART) Suniana sunias
Generally common but local. Numerous other similar grass-darts make identification a challenge. Flies close to ground on rainforest edges and wet eucalypt forests. Swamp Rice Grass Leersia hexandra is main host plant.
SWAMP DARTER (AFFINIS SKIPPER) Arrhenes marnas
Common but very local. Inhabits coastal paperbark forests where its favourite host plant Swamp Rice Grass Leersia hexandra grows in shade.
PALE-ORANGE DARTER (PALE DARTER) Telicota colon
Common but local. Inhabits eucalypt open forest with grassy understory, creek edges and paperbark forests, mangrove margins where main food species Common reed Phragmites australis or Blady Grass Imperata cylindrica grows.
GREEN DARTER Telicota ancilla
Common but local. There are a number of darters that are similar, making identification tricky. Flies close to ground in eucalypt open forest with grassy understory. Main food species include Saw sedge Gahnia aspera, Common Reed Phragmites australis and Blady Grass Imperata cylindrica.
ORANGE PALM-DART Cephrenes augiades
Common and widespread; range expanding possibly because of planting of palms. Similar to Yellow Palm-dart. Gardens and parks, especially where palms are grown. Both native and exotic palms form its host plants.
YELLOW PALM-DART Cephrenes trichopepla
Common and widespread; range expanding possibly because of planting of palms. Similar to Orange Palm-dart. Open eucalypt woodland, gardens and parks, especially where palms are grown. Both native and exotic palms form its host plants, including Piccabeen Palm Archontophoenix and Cabbage Tree Palm Livistonia sp.
Monarch or Wanderer Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Photo by A. Carr
Clearwing Swallowtail Cressida cressida
Photo by M. Strong
Splendid Ochre Trapezites symmomus
Photo by M. Strong
Common Eggfly (male) Hypolimnas bolina
Photo by A. Carr
Wide-brand Grass-Dart Suniana sunias
Photo by M. Strong
Scarlet Jezabel Delias argenthona
Photo by A. Carr
Family: Pieridae (Sulphurs & Whites)
WHITE MIGRANT (COMMON MIGRANT) Catopsilia pyranthe
Common migratory butterfly in dry vine scrubs, open forests and woodlands and gardens. Host plants include native sennas Senna spp.
LEMON MIGRANT Catopsilia pomona
Very common summer migratory butterfly. Inhabits in rain forest edges open forests and woodlands, parks and gardens. Host plants include cassias Cassia spp. (especially the introduced Golden Rain tree Cassia fistula) and native sennas Senna spp.
YELLOW MIGRANT Catopsilia gorgophone
Similar to the Lemon Migrant but with a darker yellow underwing. Common summer migrant. May be confused with Orange Migrant which should also be in this region. Host plants include native sennas Senna spp.
NO-BRAND GRASS-YELLOW Eurema brigitta
Common small yellow butterfly close to ground. Parks, gardens, open eucalypt forests and woodlands. Host plants include native cassias.
SMALL GRASS-YELLOW Eurema smilax
Common small yellow butterfly flying close to ground. Parks, gardens, open eucalypt forests, woodlands and grasslands. Host plants include native sennas Senna spp. and Native Sensitive Plant Neptunia gracilis.
LARGE GRASS-YELLOW Eurema hecabe
Common yellow butterfly flying close to ground. Parks, gardens, open forests and rainforest edges. Host plants include Wattles Acacia spp., native sennas Senna spp. and Native Coffee Bush Breynia oblongifolia.
STRIATED PEARL-WHITE (CHALK PEARL-WHITE) Elodina parthia
Very similar to Southern Pearl-white. Prefers dryer eucalypt forests and woodlands. Uncertain status on Bribie Island.
SOUTHERN PEARL-WHITE (COMMON PEARL-WHITE) Elodina angulipennis
White butterfly, similar to other pearl-whites and the garden Cabbage White. Prefers dry vine scrubs, littoral and upland rainforests. Host plants include Native capers Capparis spp.
YELLOW ALBATROSS (COMMON ALBATROSS) Appias paulina
Similar to female Caper Gull. Common in gardens, vine scrubs and rainforest edges. Host plants include Yellow Tulip Drypetes deplanchei.
CABBAGE WHITE* Pieris rapae
The common introduced garden white butterfly. Gardeners will know this species from its deprecations on brassicas such as cabbage and cauliflowers.
CAPER WHITE Belenois java
Common butterfly forming frequent summer migrations in huge numbers along coast, where it ranges across gardens, parks, open forest and woodland, even to beaches. Host plants include native capers Capparis spp.
CAPER GULL (AUSTRALIAN GULL) Cepora perimale
Uncommon white butterfly with rapid flight. Parks, gardens, open forests and rainforest edges. Host plants include native capers Capparis spp.
YELLOW-SPOTTED JEZEBEL Delias nysa nysa
Uncommon butterfly straying from upland rainforests to lowland gallery forest, especially around mistletoes.
SCARLET JEZEBEL (NORTHERN JEZABEL) Delias argenthona
Common butterfly tending to fly higher than most species. Favours paperbark forests where host plants mistletoes Amyema and Dendrophthoe spp. tend to grow, but strays into gardens and parks.
BLACK JEZEBEL (COMMON JEZABEL) Delias nigrina
Uncommon dark butterfly tending to fly higher than most species. Migrates from hinterland rainforests in summer to littoral rainforests, open forests and woodlands in winter. Host plants include mistletoes Amyema and Dendrophthoe spp. Mistletoes are important food species for a variety of birds and butterflies and among Australia’s most beautiful flowers.
Family: Nymphalidae (Nymphs or Browns)
BLUE TIGER Tirumala hamata
Very common black and blue summer north-south migrant, sometimes in thousands. Occurs in vine scrubs, open forests and near mangroves, parks and gardens and often seen heading out across beaches. Host plants include the poisonous Corky Milk Vine Secamone elliptica and Mangrove Milk Vine Cynanchum carnosum which pass on toxins to the caterpillars protecting them from birds.
LESSER WANDERER Danaus chrysippus
Common butterfly with slow flight. Occurs in a wide range of habitats ‒ mangroves, coastal wetlands, open eucalypt forests and woodlands. Host plants include Mangrove Milk Vine Cynanchum carnosum, Redhead Cotton Bush or Milkweed Asclepias curassiica and Tylophora spp.
SWAMP TIGER (BLACK AND WHITE TIGER) Danaus affinis
Uncommon butterfly, more so in mangroves, shorelines, brackish creek forests and paperbark wetlands. Host plant includes Mangrove Milk Vine Cynanchum carnosum.
MONARCH (WANDERER) Danaus plexippus
Native to North America, Monarchs arrived in Australia in late 19th century and rapidly colonised a wide range of ecosystems. Favours disturbed weedy areas, where their introduced food plants, Redhead Cotton Bush or Milkweed Asclepias curassiica and Balloon Cotton Bush Gomphocarpus physocarpus, flourish. Indeed, their populations may be linked to the prevalence of these weeds. In the 1960s, huge migrations, similar to those between United States and Mexico, would occur, and the butterfly, while still very common in parks and gardens, is becoming less common in numbers.
PURPLE CROW Euploea tulliolus
Uncommon dark brown butterfly with purple sheen. Occurs in dry vine scrubs, riparian forests and rainforest edges. Host plant is Burny Vine Trophis scandens.
COMMON CROW Euploea corinna
Very common dark butterfly with white spots. Ranges from hinterland mountains to coastal paperbark wetlands, open forests especially with Parsonsia vines, parks and gardens, sometimes in large colonies. Host plants include Monkey Vine Parsonsia straminea, the poisonous Corky Milk Vine Secamone elliptica and Mangrove Milk Vine Cynanchum carnosum, and native figs Ficus spp.
GLASSWING Acraea andromacha
Common distinctive butterfly with gliding flight. Occurs in woodlands, parks and gardens. Host plants include the orange Spade Flower Hybanthus stellarioides and Native Passionflower Passiflora aurantia.
LACED FRITILLARY Argyreus hyperbius
Critically endangered extremely rare butterfly, possibly locally extinct. Recorded in 1980s from Sandstone Point, Beachmere and Gympie in open swampy coastal areas where the larval food plant Arrowhead Violet Viola betonicifolia occurs. If you see a pale-orange butterfly with small black spots, please immediately report it to the Queensland Museum. Planting native violets may encourage its return. Bribie Island represents a suitable environment where this species may survive.
BORDERED RUSTIC (AUSTRALIAN RUSTIC) Cupha prosope
Uncommon slow-flying butterfly with bright orange and brown wings in dry vine scrubs, riparian forests and rainforest margins. Host plants include Flintwood Scolopia braunii and Xylosma Xylosma terrae-reginae.
WHITE-BANDED PLANE Phaedyma shepherdi
Uncommon to common with distinctive white markings and diagnostic short glides on flat wings. Occurs in rainforest edges, dry vine scrubs, riparian forests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Flame Tree Brachychiton acerifolius.
JEZEBEL NYMPH Mynes geoffroyi
Uncertain status on Bribie. Very similar to Black Jezabel, but perches facing outwards or downwards. Host plants include nettles Urtica spp. and Gympie Stinging Tree Dendrocnide spp.
AUSTRALIAN PAINTED LADY Vanessa kershawi
Common migrant (although less than Meadow Argus) in coastal open forests, woodlands, heaths, grasslands, parks and gardens. Host plants include Billy Buttons Chrysocephalum apiculatum.
YELLOW ADMIRAL (AUSTRALIAN ADMIRAL) Vanessa itea
Uncommon on Bribie, more so on mainland. Prefers damp slopes, gullies and riverbanks in grazing areas. Host plants include stinging nettles Urtica spp.
BLUE ARGUS Junonia orithya
Reported from Bribie Island, although its range is generally to the north but disperses widely after breeding. Males spend long periods on patches of bare ground, establishing territories. Host plants include the native Blue Trumpet Brunoniella pseuderanthemum and introduced Thunbergia.
MEADOW ARGUS Junonia villida
Very common orange and brown butterfly that could be mistaken for the less common Australian Painted Lady. Flies close to the ground in short flights with wings flat. Occurs in grasslands, open areas in woodlands, parks and gardens. Host plants include plantains Plantago spp. and goodenias Goodenia spp.
COMMON EGGFLY (VARIED EGGFLY, BLUE MOON BUTTERFLY) Hypolimnas bolina
An unpleasant name for one of our most beautiful butterflies, named for egg-shaped white spots on the male’s wings. Male and female with completely different colours. Common butterfly in wetter coast forests, creek banks, parks and gardens. Very similar Daniad Eggfly Hypolimnas misippus may also occur on Bribie Island but not currently recorded. Host plants include Lesser Joyweed Alternanthera denticulata, Karamat Hygrophila angustifolia, Love Flower Pseuderanthemum variabile, Paddy’s Lucerne Sida rhomifolia and the introduced Cinderella Weed Synedrella nodiflora.
LEAFWING Doleschallia bisaltide
Similar to Bordered Rustic, but flies rapidly. Uncommon butterfly in coastal rainforests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Love Flower Pseuderanthemum variabile and other Acanthaceae family species.
TAILED EMPEROR Charaxes [Polyura] sempronius
Reasonably common distinctive large butterfly, in parks and gardens and a wide range of ecosystems. Host plants include Brachychiton spp, Senna spp, cassias, Native Celtis Celtis paniculata and wattles Acacia spp.
EVENING BROWN Melanitis leda
Common variable butterfly staying close to the ground and alighting with wings folded. More active at dusk. Found in coastal and subcoastal parks, gardens, littoral vine forests and denser areas of open forest. Host plants include several grasses Poaceae, Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra and sedges Carex spp.
VARIED SWORD-GRASS BROWN Tisiphone abeona
Uncommon, varied butterfly in a wide range of habitats; rainforest edges, wet sclerophyll forests, heathlands, swampy areas and creek margins. Host plant are the saw-sedges Gahnia spp.
COMMON BROWN Heteronympha merope merope
Inhabits a wide range of habitats from coastal foothills to eucalypt open forest and grassy woodland. Host plants are a wide range of Poa grasses, including Green Couch Grass Cynodon dactylon and Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra.
BROWN RINGLET Hypocysta metirius
Common orange and brown butterfly, slow flying, usually close to ground. Open forests and rain forest margins. Host plants include several grasses ‒ Green Couch Cynodon dactylon, Forest Grass Ottochloa gracillima and Pademelon Grass Oplismenus hirtellus.
ORANGE RINGLET Hypocysta adiante
Uncommon orange butterfly, slow flying, usually close to ground. Grassy open forests and woodlands. Host plants include Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra and several grasses.
DUSKY KNIGHT (DINGY RING) Ypthima arctous
Common brown butterfly, known for its jerky flight close to the ground. Found in a range of coastal woodlands with grassy understory. Host plants include grasses Poaceae, especially Blady Grass Imperata cylindrica.
Family: Lycaenidae (Azures and Blues)
COPPER JEWEL Hypochrysops apelles
Uncommon, probably locally common in mangrove forests and adjacent gardens. Host plants include Grey Mangrove Avicennia marina.
PURPLE MOONBEAM (COMMON MOONBEAM) Philiris innotata
Uncommon, probably locally common in lowland rainforests, riverine scrubs, parks and gardens. Host plants include sandpaper figs Ficus opposita and Ficus coronata.
SATIN AZURE (AMARYLLIS AZURE) Ogyris amaryllis
Uncommon, probably locally common, but flying high and difficult to observe. On Bribie, found in coastal casuarina forests where its host plant mistletoe Amyema spp. grows.
IMPERIAL BLUE (IMPERIAL HAIRSTREAK) Jalmenus evagoras
Uncommon butterfly flying close to ground. Favours open eucalypt forests and woodlands with Acacia understory. Host plants include Black Wattle Acacia concurrens and Early Black Wattle Acacia leiocalyx.
GLISTENING PENCIL-BLUE (COMMON PENCIL-BLUE) Candalides absimilis
Very similar species to Trident Pencil-Blue Candalides margarita. Uncommon to common butterfly with rapid flight, favouring littoral, riparian and open eucalypt forests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Beach Tuckeroo Cupaniopsis anacardioides (a very common beach tree on Bribie), Tulipwood Harpullia pendula and native wisterias Callerya.
VARIED DUSKY-BLUE (COMMON DUSKY-BLUE) Candalides hyacinthina
Uncommon butterfly flying close to ground. Favours open eucalypt forests and woodlands, and wallum heathlands. Host plants include Hairy Dodder Cassytha pubescens.
SMALL DUSKY-BLUE Candalides erinus
Uncommon butterfly flying close to ground. Prefers coastal wallum heathlands. Host plants include Common Dodder Cassytha filiformis.
YELLOW-SPOT BLUE Candalides xanthospilos
Uncommon butterfly flying close to ground. Occurs in coastal wallum heathlands, open forest with heath understory and strays into adjacent gardens. Host plants include rice flowers Pimelea spp.
LARGE PURPLE LINE-BLUE (SIX LINE-BLUE) Nacaduba berenice
Common but local butterfly in littoral rainforests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Beach Tuckeroo Cupaniopsis anacardioides, and alectryons Alectryon spp.
WHITE-BANDED LINE-BLUE Nacaduba kurava
Common but local butterfly in littoral rainforests, mangrove forests, straying into gardens. Host plants include Beach Tuckeroo Cupaniopsis anacardioides and River Mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum.
SMALL GREEN-BANDED BLUE Psychonotis caelius
Common butterfly with sexual dimorphic colour. Favours littoral vine forest margins, open eucalypt forests and woodlands, parks and gardens. Host plants include Soap Ash Alphitonia excelsa and White Ash A. petrei.
SHORT-TAILED LINE-BLUE (FELDERS LINE-BLUE) Prosotas felderi
Common localised butterfly. Favours vine forest margins, open eucalypt forests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Macadamia Nut Macadamia integrifolia, Ivory Curl Buckinghamia celcissima (a common street planting) and Wattles Acacia spp.
PURPLE LINE-BLUE (SMALL PURPLE LINE-BLUE) Prosotas dubiosa
Common but local butterfly. Favours vine forest margins, open eucalypt forests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Macadamia Nut Macadamia integrifolia, Hairy Alectryon Alectryon tomentosus and Wattles Acacia spp.
SPECKLED LINE-BLUE Catopyrops florinda
Common but local butterfly. Favours vine forest margins, open eucalypt forests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Poison Peach Trema tormentosa and Native Mulberry Pipturus argenteus.
HAIRY LINE-BLUE Erysichton lineatus
Common but local butterfly in littoral rainforests, parks and gardens. Host plants include Macadamia Nut Macadamia integrifolia and Beach Alectryon Alectryon coriaceus.
SALTBUSH BLUE (CHEQUERED BLUE) Theclinesthes serpentata
Common but local butterfly. Preferred habitat is saltbush shrublands, saline mudflats and sand dunes. Food plants include wide range of Chenopodium species.
GLISTENING LINE-BLUE Sahulana scintillata
Common but local butterfly, in coastal woodlands and littoral vine forests. Host plants include Beach Alectryon Alectryon coriaceus and Hickory Wattle Acacia disparrima.
SAMPHIRE BLUE Theclinesthes sulpitius
Common but local butterfly, especially in national park around Mission Point and Poverty Creek. Preferred habitat is estuarine mudflats and saltmarshes. Host plants include Samphire Tecticornia indica and Seablite Suaeda australis.
CYCAD BLUE (ONYCHA BLUE) heclinesthes onycha
Common but local butterfly. Status on Bribie is uncertain. Occurs in coastal open eucalypt forests and woodlands with grassy understorey. Host plants include cycads Cycas and Macrozamia spp., neither of which occur on Bribie Island.
WATTLE BLUE (MISKIN’S BLUE) Theclinesthes miskini
Common but local butterfly. Occurs in coastal open eucalypt forests and woodlands with grassy understorey. Host plants include wattles Acacia spp., Yellow Pea-bush Sesbania cannabina and Scrub Boonaree Alectryon diversifolia.
LONG-TAILED PEA-BLUE Lampides boeticus
Common but local butterfly, preferring open forests, woodlands, parks and gardens. Host plants include Rattlepod Crotalaria spp., Native Indigo Indigofera australis and Darling Peas Swainsonia spp.
ZEBRA BLUE (PLUMBAGO BLUE) Leptotes plinius
Common butterfly with sexual dimorphic colouring. Occurs in open forests and woodlands and parks and gardens, especially those with Native Plumbago Plumbago zeylandica or Blue Plumbago/ White Leadwort P. auriculata. Planting these on Bribie will reward you with Zebra Blues in abundance.
SPOTTED GRASS-BLUE (DARK GRASS-BLUE) Zizeeria karsandra
Common but local butterfly, flying close to ground, in paddocks and grassy areas, straying into parks. Host plants include Sweetjuice Glinus oppositifolius, Calthrop Tribulus terrestris and introduced Black Medic Medicago lupulina.
COMMON GRASS-BLUE (CLOVER BLUE) Zizina otis labradus
Very common butterfly of lawns in gardens, parks, and pastures. Host plants include introduced clovers Trifolium spp., garden beans Phaseolus spp., garden peas Pisum sativum and Lucerne Medicago sativa, and the native Twining Glycine Glycine clandestina, Australian Indigo Indigofera australis and Emu Foot Cullen tenax.
BLACK-SPOTTED GRASS-BLUE Famegana alsulus
Common blue, flying close to ground. Prefers grassy areas in open forests and woodlands. Host plant includes Forest Indigo Indigofera pratensis.
DAINTY GRASS-BLUE (TINY GRASS-BLUE) Zizula hylax
Common but local blue, flying close to ground. Favours paperbark wetlands, parks and gardens. Host plants include Karamat Hygrophila angustifolia and the introduced Glush Weed Hygrophila costata.
ORANGE-TIPPED PEA-BLUE (TAILED CUPID) Everes lacturnus
Common but local butterfly, status uncertain on Bribie. Prefers grassy areas in open forests and woodlands. Host plants include Hairy Tick Trefoil Desmodium heterocarpon.
SPOTTED PEA-BLUE Euchrysops cnejus
Common but local blue. Prefers open forests, woodlands, strays into gardens and pastures. Host plants include Yellow Pea-bush Sesbania cannabina, cowpeas Vigna spp, and garden beans Phaseolus spp.
Common Eggfly (female) Hypolimnas bolina
Photo by M. Britton
Lemon Migrant Catopsilia pomona
Photo by A. Carr
Small Green-banded Blue Psychonotis caelius
Photo by M. Strong
Chequered Swallowtail
Papilio demoleus sthenelus
Photo by M. Strong
_edi.jpg)
Short-tailed Line-blue Prosotas felderi
Photo by A. Carr
Meadow Argus Junonia villida
Photo by A. Carr
Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus
Photo by M. Britton
Yellow Admiral Vanessa itea
Photo by M. Britton
Caper White Belenois java
Photo by A. Carr
Yellow Albatross Appias paulina
Photo by M. Britton
Swamp Tiger (Black and White Tiger)
Danaus affinis
Photo by M. Britton
Small Dusky Blue Candalides erinus
Photo by A. Carr
%20May%20Britton%20.jpg)
Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi
Photo by M. Britton
Lyell's Swift Pelopidas lyelli
Photo by M. Britton
Moths
There is something like 20,000 to 30,000 species of Australian moths compared to 450 species of butterflies. There is no checklist for Bribie Island but we have begun a list of some of the more identifiable species.
FAMILY: Saturniidae Emperor moths
EMPEROR GUM MOTH Opodiphthera eucalypti
A spectacular large moth found in eastern Australia and recorded at Sandstone Point. Prefers open eucalypt forests. Has a wide range of food species for the caterpillar stage, but the adults do not eat in their two weeks of adult life. Host plants include various Eucalypts, Brush Box Lophostemon confertus, Brown Laurel Cryptocarya triplinervis, Evodia Evodia spp. Cherry Guava Psidium cattleyanum and the introduced Pepper Tree Schinus molle, and Liquidamber Liquidambar styraciflua.
FAMILY: Noctuidae Owlet Moths
JOSEPH'S COAT MOTH (PAINTED VINE MOTH) Agarista agricola
Uncommon day-flying moth, often confused with Regent Skipper with similar colouring. Host plants include Vitaceae family including Australian Native Grape Cissus antartica, Slender Grape Cayratia clematidea and cultivated grapes Vitis vinifera.
FAMILY: Erebidae Magpie Moths
MAGPIE MOTH Nyctemera annulata
Common day-flying moth in parks and gardens, attracting to night lights. Host plant includes Thickhead Cassocephalum crepidiodes, groundsels Senecio spp. and other species in the Aster family.
GRANNY'S CLOAK MOTH Speiredonia spectans
A common beautifully coloured moth that is frequently found during the day in dark places inside houses and other built structures. The wing scales diffract light which changes the colour of the wings depending on the angle. Nocturnal, with acute hearing to prevent them being a prey for bats. Host plants include Hickory Wattle Acacia dissparima or implexa and Yellow Tulip Drypetes deplanchei.
HELITROPE MOTH (SALT AND PEPPER MOTH) Utetheisa pulchelloides
Common summer day-flying moth in grasslands, parks and gardens. Host plants include Heliotrope Heliotropium europaeum and Paterson's Curse Echium plantagineum.
GREEN FRUIT-PIECING MOTH Eudocima salaminia
An extraordinary patterned moth that looks like a dead curled leaf when wings are closed and opens to a green sheen on brown wings with two black question marks on orange. Unfortunately the adult moth is an attacker of citrus, lychees and longans. Recorded from Sandstone Point.
FAMILY: Arctiidae Australian tiger moths
ORANGE-SPOTTED MOTH (a TIGER MOTH) Amata species
Common moth in rainforest edges, littoral vine forests, parks, and gardens, attracting to night lights. Host plant includes lichens.
FAMILY: Sphingidae Hawk moths
SILVER-STRIPED HAWK MOTH (VINE HAWKMOTH) Hippotion celerio
Rare long-distance migrant from Africa and Asia to Europe and Australia, where it has established small populations. Host plants: Vitaceae family including Australian Native Grape Cissus antarctica, Slender Grape Cayratia clematidea and cultivated grapes Vitis vinifera. Recorded from Sandstone Point.
PALE BROWN HAWK MOTH Theretra latreillii
Common hawk moth in coastal Queensland, recorded from Sandstone Point. Often seen feeding at dusk on garden flowers. Host plants include Vitaceae spp.
Joseph's Coat Moth Agarista agricola
Photo by M. Strong
Magpie Moth Nyctemera annulata
Photo by M. Strong
Granny's Cloak Moth Speiredonia spectans
Photo by M. Strong
Silver-striped Hawk Moth Hippotion celerio
Photo by M. Strong
FAMILY: Psychidae Case moths
SAUNDER'S CASE MOTH Metura elongatus
Best known for its remarkable mobile casing of silk covered with sticks and leaves, attached to fences or bushes.
Green Fruit-piercing Moth Eudocima salaminia
Photo by M. Strong