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Subfamily NYMPHALINAE
- This page contains pictures and information about Butterflies in Subfamily NYMPHALINAE in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Caterpillars in this subfamily usually have branched spines.
- Butterflies are medium size and fast-flying. They rest with wings open in sunshine. Their forelegs are reduced in both sexes, i.e, they only have four legs instead of six.
- Common Eggfly
- Hypolimnas bolina, male, female, wingspan 70mm
- The first picture shows a male, black in colour with white spot surrounded with blue colour on each wing. The seconds picture shows the top view of female, look quite different with the male, with white and orange patterns, but the bottom views are almost the same. We can easily find them in Wishart along the Bulimba Creek in Brisbane. More pictures and information please click here.
- We saw this butterfly once in Daisy Hill Forest during late summer. The butterfly was flying closely on the ground, sometimes rested on leaf for a short time. When rested, the butterfly usually close its wings. The wings bottom sides camouflaged with dry leaf pattern. When there was the sun shine, it opened its wings to display the rich orange and brown colours. Click here for more pictures and information.
- Meadow Argus
- Junonia villida, wingspan 55mm Caterpillar 35mm
- Meadow Argus Butterflies are sometimes seen when we go for bush walking. We also find it visiting the Milkweed flowers when we go to the Macgregor Park bush to look for the Wanderer. This butterfly is medium in size, brown in colour and with eye-pattern on all the wings. There are also the orange and white marks on the top edge of its forewings. The butterfly is a rapid flyer and like to sunbathe with wings open.
- Vanessa kershawi, wingspan 55mm
- This is a medium size butterfly, not always seen in Brisbane. The wings are bright orange in colour with black and white patterns. There are four eye spots on each hind wings. The underside of the hind wings are pale brown in colour, with grey and white patterns. Their caterpillar is brown in colour with short hairs. More information and pictures can be found in this page.
- Reference and Link:
- 1. Insects
of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University
Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p898.
- 2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p463.
- 2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p463.
FAMILY NYMPHALIDAE
