PLANNING AND ORGANIZING COMMITTEE 2014

President:

Vice President:

Treasurer:

Secretary:

Magazine:

Publicity and Library:

Excursion Convenor:

Committee Members:

Ross Kendall 07 3378 1187

John Moss 07 3245 2997

Rob MacSloy 07 3824 4348

Richard Zietek 07 3390 1950

Daphne Bowden (daphne.bowden1 @bigpond.com) 07 3396 6334

Lois Hughes 07 3206 6229

Alisha Steward 07 3275 1186

Marie-Louise Johnson 0422 970 184

Jill Fechner Ross I don’t have any contacts for her

PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION MEETINGS

A quarterly meeting is scheduled in order to plan club activities and the magazine.

See BOIC Programme.

CONTACT ADDRESS AND MEMBERSHIP DETAILS

PO Box 2113, Runcorn, Queensland 4113

Membership fees are $30 for individuals, schools and organizations.

AIMS OF ORGANIZATION

To establish a network of people growing butterfly host plants;

To hold information meetings about invertebrates;

To organize excursions around the theme of invertebrates e.g. butterflies,

native bees, ants, dragonflies, beetles, freshwater habitats, and others;

To promote the conservation of the invertebrate habitat;

To promote the keeping of invertebrates as alternative pets;

To promote research into invertebrates;

To encourage the construction of invertebrate friendly habitats in urban areas.

MAGAZINE DEADLINES

If you want to submit an item for publication the following deadlines apply:

March issue — February Ist June issue — May Ist

September issue — August Ist December issue — November Ist

ALL MATERIAL IN THIS MAGAZINE IS COPYRIGHT

COVER PAINTING

Carabid Beetle (Ca/osoma austral ) — Painting by Lois Hughes

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 2

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Apollo Jewel butterfly (Hypochrysops apollo Miskin, 1891); its remarkable hostplants

AUG ALT ASSOCIAMOLSE Anstey create Cubes rected obec cyte sy lerecies denseutevychardeiesdtprysesyckardevedeneyttes 4

NTU HATIES sc sasl i venssg adie ete eo cae eee sere et econ th ahs uaaens city aiUas aaaens oi apeaad 9

Happy 20" birthday to BOIC — how it all got started and musings ..........:cceeseseeeeeeee 10

Brisbane's Swamp Butterfly Habitat ......0.0 ccc cccssseccesseecessseeeessseeeesseecessseeeeseeeeenaes 15

Great Carpenter Bee — Xvlocopa (KOPtortOSOMa) —ciccccccccccccsccccccuecccccsececeeeeeceueeeeeenes 20

Life history notes on the Ringed Xenica, Geitoneurd ACANHNA ....cccccccssecccccseeeeeceaeeseees 22

Lures and Traps for Teaching Kids about Insects .......... ccc ceecccccssecceeeseeeceeeceeeeeceeees 25

Processionary caterpillars Ochrogaster LUNIPCY ......cccccccccecccccensecccesececaaececenseceaasecesaaess 26

Presumed new hostplant for the Green-banded Jewel butterfly «0.0.0... eeecceeeee 28

Book Review - Moths of Victoria Part 5 oo... cccccccssseccceeseeceeeeseeccseeseeesaeeceesaeeeees 30

You Asked - Tonica sp., Chrysolopus spectabilis, Anestia semiochrea and Molly Grubs..... is

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MMMM MMMM NN MMNM MIM

Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 3

CREATURE FEATURE

Diurnal predation of lepidopterous larvae by the carabid beetle

Calosoma austral Hope 1845 — Richard Zietek

Early this year, 5"" March 2014, I made a collecting trip to a property called

‘““Noonbah” owned by naturalist Angus Emmott. The property is situated

approximately half hour west of Lochern National Park via Longreach. I arrived a

week after 5 inches of rain, after a 2 year drought. On the first night I set up a mercury

vapour light. The result was amazing. Within an hour I could not walk within 4 metres

ofthe light without treading on Calosoma species, Calosoma shayeri and

Calosoma austral. They came in the hundreds. Not much else showed up and what

did was attacked by

the two species of

Calosoma.

The following night

was a complete

reversal, the Calosoma

spp. being still present,

but only in small

numbers, at least a

decrease of 90% to the

previous night. The

following morning, 6"

March, I went

collecting on the

Light sheet on the 2"! night at “ Noonbah” — Photo Angus Emmott property. The channels

were all running and

some too deep to cross with the car, so I went walking through the bush. Two types of

Eremophila sp. were in full bloom, a blue on the flat plains, and a red on the rocky

higher ground (unable to identify). Acacia aneura, Mulga, was starting to flower, and

there were stands of Acacia cambagei, Gidgee. As I walked around 1n 40 degree heat,

I noticed that almost every bush had a Calosoma austral moving around inside its

branches and leaves.

As I investigated further I noticed that the beetles were actively running down

lepidopterous larvae, 3 types of looper caterpillar were observed, and feasting on

them, some would escape by dropping on a silken thread. I thought this behaviour

unusual as I was under the impression that Calosoma were nocturnal predators. I saw

no sign of any Calosoma shayeri exhibiting this behaviour. The following day even

though numbers had decreased Calosoma austral were still chasing larvae during the

day.

BEDS REDS PF DE bd PE De De Pe be Pe be pe Pe bd Pe bg

Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 4

— Calosoma, is a worldwide genus, and is

the sole representative of the Carabininae

in Australia. The only Australian species

are, Calosoma shayeri Erich, in the east

| and south and Tasmania, Calosoma

oceanicum Perroud in the west, and

Calosoma austral Hope in Central

Australia.

The Ground Beetles, which are the

common name for the Carabids, form

Calosoma austral — Photo John Moss one of the largest families of beetles.

They are classified in 1500 genera and

approximately 30,000 described species worldwide. Australian fauna consists of 295

genera and approximately 2,575 described species.

For the record — I have collected one specimen of C. austral on the 15-12-1969 at

Bulwer Island, Brisbane, one on 23-2-1980 at Camira via Ipswich, and a number at

‘“Noonbah” on 5-3-2014.

References:

The Insects of Australia - CSIRO

A Guide to the Beetles of Australia - George Hangay, Paul Zborowsk1.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Teddy Bear Bees, Amegilla (Asaropoda) - Erica Siegel

So far there are 26 species of Amegilla (Asasopoda) recorded in Australia.

Teddy Bear Bees are solitary bees and range in size from 7-20 mm. Most are about

15 mm and are covered in dense red-brown fur with brown hairless stripes on the

abdomen, seven for males and 6 for females, but some are a lighter buff colour. As

they age the hair on top of the thorax becomes worn and they develop a bald patch.

They are one of Australia’s long-tongued bee groups and carry the pollen on special

thick fur on their hind legs.

Teddy Bear bees occur in all states of Australia except Tasmania and are usually

found along the coast and in the Murray Darling Basin. The largest, Dawson’s

Burrowing bee (A. dawsoni), lives in Western Australia and nests in large groups in

clay pans.

Other Teddy Bear bees build shallow 10 cm nest burrows in soft soil, creek banks, in

weep holes of retaining walls, in gaps 1n sleepers surrounding garden beds and

sometimes underneath houses. Many females may nest together 1n the one location

but each female builds her own nest containing a cluster of 2 cm urn-shaped cells

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 5

made of mud and lined with waterproof secretions. The cells all face upwards and the

female stocks each cell with a paste of nectar and pollen on which she lays her egg.

The cell is then sealed with a cap. Fully grown larvae may lay dormant until spring if

winter 1s near.

Female Teddybear bees are stalked by the Domino Cuckoo bee, Thyreus lugubris,

which will lay her egg in unattended nests and the Cuckoo bee larvae will consume

the food meant for the larvae of the Teddybear bee.

Teddybear bees are known as buzz pollinators allowing them to pollinate flowers with

enclosed pollen like Solanum sp., tomato, eggplant, chilli. They grasp the flowers

with their front legs and use their flight muscles to vigorously vibrate the flower, thus

dislodging the pollen. They are valuable pollinators of native wildflowers and forage

on native flowers like Senna clavigera, Hibbertia scandens, Hibbertia dentata,

Dianella, Melastoma affine, and exotic Buddleja davidii and Cuphea sp.

The males roost together at night in small groups by hanging onto stems or twigs with

their mandibles. They have been observed roosting near the roost of Blue-banded bees

and sharing the same twig with a Blue-banded bee.

Reference:

Dr. Anne Dollin ( Australian Native Bee Research Centre)

Further Reading:

Photos and information

http://www.aussiebee.com.au/teddy bear _bee.html Photos Erica Siegel

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 6

2K OK 26 OK OK OK OK KOK OK

Moths of Tropical North Queensland — Graham J. McDonald

Introduction

Last June and July, my wife and I returned to Cape York Peninsula to photograph

butterflies and moths at Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park and several other

places in the Wet Tropics.

Moths were attracted to a light sheet powered by a 250 W mercury vapour light and

generator. Over 550 moth images were taken using a Canon 450D DSLR camera and

a Tamron SP 60 mm F/2 macro lens. Only 15 selected photos are seen here of the

most spectacular species. The weather on Cape York at this time was mostly fine

with a few brief showers at Iron Range and Babinda. Temperatures varied from 18°C

at night to 27°C during the day.

Moths and butterflies can mostly breed all year round but there 1s a peak in the wet

season, when the roads in this area can become impassable. Light sheets were run in

13 locations from Iron Range to Murray Falls. Many of the moth images are yet to be

identified to the species level but most have been given a Family or Genus status.

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FAMILY EUPTEROTIDAE

Cotana neurina - male

Cook’s Hut Campground, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park

G.P.S. 12°42°36.6” S 143°17°33.09” E

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 7

Cotana neurina 1s a large moth found only from Cape York to Iron Range. The

larvae probably feed on Melaleuca spp, including M. quinquenervia, which are

plentiful in lowland paperbark forests. They are some of the first moths to land on a

light sheet. The males and females (see Fig. 1b) demonstrate sexual dimorphism with

the females being much larger and differently patterned. Males are very common

here but the females were seldom seen.

A similar moth, C. serranotata, 1s found further south around Cairns.

Fig. 1b

F: EUPTEROTIDAE

Cotana neurina (female)

Cook’s Hut Campground, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park

G.P.S. 12°42°36.6” S_ 143°17°33.09” E

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F: GEOMETRIDAE, S/F: ENNOMINAE

Capasa incensta (male)

Cook’s Hut Campground, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park

G.P.S. 12°42°36.6” S_ 143°17°33.09” E

Capasa incensta 1s a medium-sized moth found in Cape York rainforests. The

coloration of the wings is quite variable with the background varying from a grey-

ereen to rusty or pale brown. The transverse bands on the wings can be green, khaki

or yellowish. All variations have the forewing costa orange. A second species

Capasa recensata has a broad band transversing the forewing.

Fig. 3

F: GEOMETRIDAE, S/F: OENOCHROMINALEH és. lat.

Celerena griseofusa

Old Coen Walk, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park

12°44’ 14.43” S, 143°15’42.87” E

This large moth was attracted to light traps set up in a variety of vegetation types

including tropical rainforest, moister savannah woodland and areas dominated by

Melaleuca spp.

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 8

Fig. 4a

F: GEOMETRIDAE, S/F: GEOMETRINAE

Dysphania fenestrata (Four o’clock moth)

Gordon Creek, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park

G.P.S. 12°42754.49” S, 143°18’5.19” E

This very large moth flies 1n the late afternoon, hence the common name. This moth

was photographed in its natural surroundings. They are easily captured by hand just

after they land. The larva (Fig. 4b) feeds on the corky bark carallia, Carallia

brachiata.

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F: ARCTIIDAE, S/F: ARCTHUNAE

Spilosoma erythrastis

Gordon Creek, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park

G.P.S. 12°42754.49” S, 143°18’5.19” E

This large colourful moth can show some variability with the bold black area on the

hindwings reduced to black dots. The natural distribution is between Iron Range and

Babinda.

Fig. 6

F: GEOMETRIDAE, S/F: GEOMETRINAE

Gelasma orthodesma (male)

Gordon Creek, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park

G.P.S. 12°42’54.49” S, 143°18’5.19” E

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 9

A medium to large emerald Geometrid moth found from Iron Range to the Cairns

area.

ars

Fig. 7

F: CRAMBIDAE, S/F: SPILOMELINAE

Cydalima pfeifferae

Cook’s Hut Campground, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park

G.P.S. 12°42°36.6” S 143°17°33.09” E

A medium sized very beautiful moth with a silken sheen. A similar species, C.

laticostalis is found near Cairns.

Fig. 8

F: GEOMETRIDAE, S/F: ENNOMINAE

Milionia queenslandica

Tully Gorge Camping Area, Tully Gorge National Park

G.P.S. 17°46’26.17” S, 145°39’1.68” E

A large spectacular moth found from Cooktown to Mackay. They are closely related

to colourful day-flying moths from New Guinea but they are not as strongly diurnal,

coming to light at night. The larval food plant 1s unknown but it could be Podocarpus

spp.or Prumnopitys spp

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F: GEOMETRIDAE, S/F: ENNOMINAE

Bracca rotundata

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 10

Tully Gorge Camping Area, Tully Gorge National Park

G.P.S. 17°46’26.17” S, 145°39’1.68” E

A large boldly patterned Geometrid moth found from Cape York Peninsula to

Eungella. The food plants are Wilkiea spp and Tetrasynandra spp (F:

MONIMIACEAE). See article in Metamorphosis Australia No. 72, p. 15 - 17.

Fig. 10

F: SATURNITIDAE, S/F: SATURNUINAE

Cascinocera hercules (Hercules Moth) - male

Tully Gorge Camping Area, Tully Gorge National Park

G.P.S. 17°46’26.17” S, 145°39’1.68” E

This extremely large moth occurs in rainforest from Cape York south to Ingham. The

female 1s one of the world’s largest moths with a wingspan of over 25 cm. The food

plants vary and include Homalanthus nutans (Bleeding heart tree), Glochidion

ferdinandi (Cheese tree), Dysoxylum mollissimum (Red bean), Polyscias elegans

(Celerywood) and other species.

Fig. 11

F: CRAMBIDAE, S/F: ACENTROPHINAE

Tetrernia terminitis

Babinda Boulders

G.P.S. 17°20’26.84” S, 145°52’15.69”E

This small-medium colourful moth 1s found from Cape York south to at least Ingham

in and near rainforest and wet areas. It belongs to a group of moths that have aquatic

larvae as well as being boldly patterned.

Fig. 12

F: CRAMBIDAE. S/F: SPILOMELINAE

Glyphodes callipona

Coen

G.P.S. 13°56’5.86” S, 143°11°57.21” E

The Glyphodes moths are generally small to medium with transparent wing panels.

They come readily to light but can be found on the wing in daylight. Their habit of

landing under leaves makes them difficult to photograph in their natural habitat.

PT PS PE DS PE DE PS Pe Re be Pe he be Oe bd Pe be bd Pd

Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 11

seer: —**

athe : aes $s 4 see rie Fig. | 3

segsedstisrieisatererertasieetessisoges. F: CRAMBIDAE, S/F:

eta seteees See ACENTROPHINAE

es. Theila siennata

eee: A Old Coen Walk, Kutini-Payamu (Iron

Heieitits tet Range) National Park

Beets G.P.S. 12°44’14.43” S, 143°15’42.87” E

Seeeetee, Another aquatic species found from Iron

Sites, Range south to at least Tully.

References: Photos Graham Macdonald

Common, I. F. B. (1990) Moths of Australia Melbourne University Press

Herbison-Evans, Don and Crossley, Stella http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au

Richardson, B. (2008) Mothology: Discover the Magic LeapfrogOz

Zborowski, P. and Edwards, E. D. (2007) A Guide to Australian Moths CSIRO

Publishing

TK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK

Life history notes on the Small Grass-yellow, Eurema smilax

(Donovan, 1805) Lepidoptera: Pieridae - Wesley Jenkinson

The Small Grass-yellow is encountered across much of mainland Australia being the

most widespread species in the genus. This species is encountered 1n a variety of open

habitats where the host plants are established chiefly in grasslands, open woodland,

eucalypt open-forest and occasionally in suburban gardens. Small migrations of this

species occur depending on regional rainfall and the availability of host plants.

The adults fly close to the ground amongst grasses. When disturbed they can fly quite

rapidly and can be difficult to follow. The adults are active during warm sunny

conditions, but tend to settle during cloudy periods only to take flight again when the

cloud has cleared. Both sexes feed from a variety of small native and introduced

flowers.

Whilst in flight, the adults can be very easily confused with other species in the genus.

In comparison to other Eurema spp. the adults are generally smaller and the forewing

is Slightly narrower with the apex more rounded. The shape and position of the black

apex pattern on the forewing upperside will also help place this species. Voucher

specimens are best for correct identification.

The sexes are quite similar in appearance. Males have an elliptical shaped sex brand

(sex scales) along vein CuA on the underside of the forewing (Common &

Waterhouse) and the females are slightly paler yellow. This species shows variation

on the hindwing upperside, with some specimens having dark terminal markings

while others have small black spots at the end of the veins. This species has a

considered wet and dry season form where the brownish underside markings vary

BEDS REDS PF OE bs PE DT pe Pe be Pe be pe Pe bd Pe bg

Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 12

considerably. The dry season form usually has heavier markings than the wet season

form in which the markings can be absent. Intermediate specimens also occur.

Wingspans for the adults pictured are 30mm for the males and 33mm for the females

Eurema smilax (Small Grass-yellow)

Images top left to right: male, female, male underside, female underside (intermediate forms)

Image lower left to right: male underside (wet season form), male underside (dry season form), female

(showing dark terminal markings)

Females oviposit eggs singly on either side of fresh and mature leaves of the host

plant. On taller Senna plants, the females have a preference to deposit the eggs on the

leaves closest to the ground particularly 1f spindly grass 1s growing through the plant.

In January 2004 at Beaudesert a female was observed slowly fluttering around a small

cultivated host plant Senna surattensis, she settled on the host plant and curled her

abdomen on to the upperside of a leaf ovipositing a single egg. While egg-laying, her

wings remain closed. This egg was kept for life history studies.

This egg was creamish white, spindle shaped with very fine longitudinal

ribs, approximately 0.5 mm wide x 1.3 mm high

Freshly laid egg

When the first instar larva emerged, most of the eggshell was consumed shortly

afterwards. It was observed feeding during daylight hours feeding from the outer edge

of the leaves and resting on either side of the leaves of the host plant. The larva raised

completed five instars and attained a length of 18mm.

We nnarye p49 lhe Ve

0 AD eye ome e

1“ instar larva 2"¢ instar larva

3" instar larva

PEPE PERT PE DE PS Pa Re be Pe he be Oe bd pe be bd Pd

Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 13

4" instar larva

Pre-pupa lateral view Pupa lateral view Pupa with brown markings

In captivity the pupa, measuring 15mm in length, was located below a stem of the

host plant. It was attached with silk by the cremaster and a central girdle. Pupae

occasionally have brownish markings camouflaged to match the stem colour as

pictured. Adults raised in captivity in November 2007 emerged around 7.00 am.

The total time from egg to adult was egg duration of 4 days, larval duration 23 days

and pupal duration of 13 days.

Within the new boundary of the Scenic Rim Regional Shire south of Brisbane, I have

records of adults from all months of the year. In this region the adults appear to be

more numerous during the summer and autumn months. However, this probably

relates to the timing of local rainfall triggering fresh growth of the host plants.

Photos Wesley Jenkinson

References:

Braby, M.F., 2000. Butterflies of Australia — Their Identification, Biology and Distribution. vol

1. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.

Common, I.F.B. & Waterhouse, D.F., 1981. Butterflies of Australia (revised edition). Angus &

Robertson Publishers, Sydney.

2k 2k aK KK KF

New Distribution Records for Sulphur and White Butterflies

(Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in inland and outback Australia —

Kelvyn L. Dunn

Summary

This paper documents 49 new locations in inland and outback Australia for 11 Pierid

butterflies (namely, Catopsilia pyranthe, C. pomona, Eurema laeta, E. herla, E.

smilax, E. hecabe, Elodina parthia, El. walkeri, Cepora perimale, Delias argenthona

and D. aganippe). Each record falls outside the boundaries of the species’

distributions, as indicated on the range-filled maps provided by Braby (2000). The

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report also discusses relevant new locations discovered by others since 2000, namely,

those that lie close to any listed 1n this paper, but in doing so it does not reiterate

historic distributions that underpin Braby (2000). The many new locations for the

species tabled provide ongoing evidence that there remains much to learn about

butterfly species’ distribution in inland Australia.

Introduction

Those insect enthusiasts who occasionally visit remote areas of Australia may pay

little attention to the Sulphurs and Whites, a group of butterflies whose members are

small to moderately sized, and which are usually conspicuous on the wing and readily

identified. The Sulphurs are often quite fast and steady fliers (many are migratory) but

can be effortlessly photographed (and easily identified by this means) when they

pause to feed at flowers, or when they roost on low foliage in the evenings and during

unsuitable weather for sustained flight. Some of the Whites can be weak and slow

fliers (e.g. Elodina) yet others are robust and fast (e.g. Appias). The Jezebels (Delias)

often have stunning aposematic patterns (to warn predators), their scarlet splashes are

eye-catching against the darker, underside wing markings; they present as slow flying

and showy on patrol, as they circle and glide, often high up amongst the taller trees.

Regular observations by casual observers have built up a substantial knowledge of the

distributions of Pierid butterflies because their members, like those of the

Swallowtails (Papilionidae) (see Dunn 2013a for a complementary piece on that

group), are very noticeable in areas where they occur. Despite their visibility, the

known distributions for some of the more widespread and common species, as per the

Swallowtail group, are still patchy, fragmentary, and likely under-representative

beyond the coastal and sub-coastal regions where most butterfly fieldwork 1s

repeatedly done (Dunn 2010). That paucity of knowledge applies especially to those

species that periodically disperse inland along major river systems, from moister

upland regions of the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in eastern Australia,

or from floristically richer regions nearer the eastern coast after traversing the range.

It is possible that Delias argenthona (Scarlet Jezebel) is one of those species that

expands considerably inland and may breed seasonally or opportunistically (in those

more favourable years) along river systems during late winter and early spring, prior

to the hot and dry summer period in southern inland Australia, where, at which time it

is unlikely to be found. The surprising new record of several adults of this species

along the Murrumbidgee River, in the township of Bourke, remote from other known

locations, would support this suggestion.

Methods

During two lengthy field trips across inland New South Wales and outback

Queensland (see Dunn 2013b for map of sites visited), I pragmatically recorded

Pierids (and all other butterflies) in order to help alleviate the knowledge imbalances

that exist for the inland of eastern Australia (Dunn 2009, 2010). I utilised a ‘roadside

explorative approach’ that involved examination of numerous sites along major

highways and byroads, en route back and forth to the Gulf Country; sites were

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selected according to the various types of habitat available and where these habitats

showed less human disturbance. I routinely walked slowly through each site visited

(often involving a 15-30 minute inspection), and in process listed all species

encountered that could be positively identified by various means (netting,

photography and close observations). Most inspections occurred between about 0900

and 1730h (AEST) each day for the entirety of each trip, usually irrespective of the

weather, with focus on sunnier periods to maximise encounter rates with adults (the

main life stage sought).

I identified many of the adults seen without the requirement of handling; least

interference was the option aimed for where the record was thought, at the time, to be

mundane. Those twenty-seven (27) encounters (50.0%) recorded by ‘observation-

only’ are marked (Obs.). For 26 (96.3%) of these observations the identifications were

certain (Category 1). In each case, I recognised sufficient characters to achieve that

level of confidence. One observation was to a level of ‘almost certain’ (Category 2) as

the field circumstances did not permit sufficient time and closeness to identify the

species to a level beyond reasonable doubt on that occasion. Yet, I felt sufficiently

confident that it was the species that I believed it to be, based on (one or more)

behavioural traits noted, through use of a process of elimination of unlikely species,

and in conjunction with experiential knowledge. That lower grade record is marked

‘C2’ (see Dunn 201 1a for discussion of these and other categories of record

acceptability) to distinguish it as less reliable as observations go; nonetheless the

distribution it suggests is quite believable and it was not far from the inland boundary,

previously recorded (Braby 2000).

I retained voucher specimens at times, and more often than not, these were from

locations where the species concerned were far beyond their known ranges. For that

reason, the percentage of vouchers 1n the Table (35.2%) 1s much higher than the usual

frequency for all records (because the table is selective data and lists only those

records that represent new locations). Sometimes vouchers were not obtained when,

perhaps, this ought to have been done in order to improve the survey rigour; the

reason for this was mostly because, on some occasions I did not recognise that a

particular location was evidence of new distribution at the time of the field encounter.

Occasionally too, some adults suspected of being from new or perhaps cusp locations

were handled (to confirm their identification, in the event that 1t might be challenged)

and then released unharmed (Rel.) (11.1%); those specimens in poorer condition (i.e.

with serious wing wear) were released as routine practice. A small portion of records

were photographed (18.5%) where this was possible in the field, and these serve as

supportive evidence that can be examined by others, should this be required (some are

reproduced in this report to substantiate those encounters). At times, I retained adults

that had posed for video photography, if they lingered unduly (but oftentimes they

would quickly depart on my closer approach); where retained as a specimen, these are

included among those marked as vouchers, but each includes a superscript-link to the

photos (video frames) concerned. (On occasion, I photographed some again, usually

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in late afternoon or early next morning; at these times outdoor lighting was more

subdued (creative of less shadow). When the adult was placed in an open area (away

from distracting tangled vegetation where they may otherwise chose to perch), this

often enabled a much improved image compared with the more natural event). Where

records standalone as image-only (meaning the specimens were not retained) these are

marked as ‘Photo’ (0.6%).

The method used to measure distances, and define locations to precision of within a

kilometre of the actual site, has been described previously (Dunn 2013c); extended

discussion and other recommendations to help describe locations effectively and, in

process, to avoid ambiguity are detailed elsewhere (Dunn 2013d) and not reiterated.

Finally, some records from other field trips have been included too where these are

new locations for the regions concerned, and not published elsewhere.

Results and Discussion

Table 1 (a & b) lists 54 records of 11 species from 49 new locations (arranged from

north to south), across three states in Australia; all sites fall outside the boundaries

defined by Braby (2000) for the species concerned and so are new on that criterion.

References to findings of other workers 1n the last decade (or so), are cross-linked

where their published new locations fall close to those listed. For Elodina parthia and

D. argenthona the new locations are evidence that these two species extend notably

farther inland in Queensland (and for the latter species, farther inland in New South

Wales as well), than was formerly believed. For Eurema laeta the new records from

the Normanton area provide evidence of what is likely to be a continuous distribution

through the coastal region of the Gulf Country. For the other Pierid species, some of

the extensions may be minor but each provides evidence of a broader inland

occurrence in the area concerned than was known previously. Most of these new

records link in to an inadequate knowledge of species’ distributions — a lack of regular

exploration of the inland by insect enthusiasts — rather than because of unusual or

localised climatic conditions (that were present in southeastern Australia for some of

the years concerned). Each record adds insight into the distribution of those species of

butterfly in the inland and helps fill knowledge gaps evident 1n their distributions

(based on the range-fill maps in Braby 2000).

Acknowledgements

Dr John Moss kindly identified the Atalaya species from a series of photographs of

the flowers and foliage from the sites concerned, and identified the Lysiana and Sida

species (the last mentioned to genus) based on the photographs included. (The writer

identified all other plants mentioned. )

References:

Anonymous (via editor) 2011. Recent Observations. Victorian Ent. 41(2): 29.

Atkins, A.F., Edwards, E.D., Braby, M.F., Johnson, S.J. & Valentine, P.S. 2003. The butterflies of

White Mountains National Park, northern Queensland, and adjoining localities. /n

Comben, L., Westacott, T. & Berg, K. (eds). White Mountains Study Report. Geography

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 17

Monograph Series No. 9. (pp.7-10). The Royal Geographic Society of Queensland Inc.

Brisbane. iv+146pp.

Braby, M.F. 2000. Butterflies of Australia: their identification, biology and distribution.

CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood Vic.

Dunn, K.L. 2007. Booklet Review: Butterfly Host Plants of South-east Queensland and

Northern New South Wales. Second (Revised) Edition, by John T Moss. Victorian

Entomologist 37(6): 96-98.

Dunn, K.L. 2009. Overview of the butterfly database: Part 2 — Current composition, imbalances

and factors of influence. Victorian Entomologist 39(5): 89-100.

Dunn, K.L. 2010. Overview of the butterfly database: Part 4 — Personal contributions (KLD).

Victorian Entomologist 40(5): 98-109.

Dunn, K.L. 201 1a. Overview of the butterfly database: Part 6 — The knowledge gap,

identification complexity and measures of record acceptability. Victorian

Entomologist 41(2): 30-38.

Dunn, K.L. 2011b. An update on some unusual butterfly records from Victoria during the 2010-

2011 season. Victorian Entomologist 41(3): 54-57, 45 (& Corrigenda 41: 84).

Dunn, K.L. 201 1c. A new state record — Delias argenthona Fabricius in Victoria — with

commentary on Graphium sarpedon (Linnaeus), another butterfly reported from the

state in 2011. Victorian Entomologist 41(4): 82-84.

Dunn, K.L. 2013a. New distribution records for Swallowtail butterflies (Lepidoptera:

Papilionidae) in eastern Australia. Metamorphosis Australia, Magazine of the

Butterfly & Other Invertebrates Club 70: 8-14.

Dunn, K.L. 2013b. Field Notes: Major extensions to the known distribution of the Bright Purple

Azure, Ogyris barnardi (Miskin 1890) in Queensland (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).

Metamorphosis Australia, Magazine of the Butterfly & Other Invertebrates Club 68:

26-32.

Dunn, K.L. 2013c. Field Notes: Gulf Country extensions to the known distribution of the Long-

tailed Pea-blue, Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus 1767) in Queensland (Lepidoptera:

Lycaenidae). Metamorphosis Australia, Magazine of the Butterfly & Other

Invertebrates Club 69: 17-23.

Dunn, K.L. 2013d. Overview of the butterfly database: Part 7 — Descriptions of provenance and

promotion of new trends. Victorian Entomologist 43(1): 13-22.

Dunn, K.L & Field, R.P. 2012. Two new records of skipper butterflies from the Murray Valley

in SE Australia. Victorian Entomologist 42(2): 26-28.

Faithfull, 1.G. & Dunn, K.L. 2012. Papilio demoleus L. (Lepidoptera) in Victoria, November

2010 to March 2011: southward migration and northerly return migration. Victorian

Entomologist 42(6): 122-131 (& corrigenda 43(1): 23).

Halsey, M. 2011. Some unusual moth records for NE Victoria. Victorian Entomologist 41(6):

129.

Haywood, B. 2014. Unusual butterfly observations for south-east South Australia from 2010 to

2012. Victorian Entomologist 44(1): 16-20.

Hewish, M & Hewish D. 2013. Recent records of Small Grass-yellows Eurema smilax in the

Bacchus Marsh-Geelong region. Victorian Entomologist 43(3): 65-66.

Meyer, C.E., Weir, R.P. & Brown, S.S. 2013. Some new and interesting butterfly (Lepidoptera)

distribution and temporal records from Queensland and northern Australia. Australian

Entomologist 40(1): 7-12.

Morton, T. 2012. Reported Under Observations Continued: Butterfly/moth activity around

Castlemaine 2011/2012. Victorian Entomologist 42(3): 56.

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 18

Moss, J.T. 2005. Butterfly host plants of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales.

or Edition). Butterfly & Other Invertebrates Club Inc., Runcorn, Qld.

Moss, J.T. 2007. Hostplant Update. Butterfly & Other Invertebrates Club Inc. Newsletter 45:

31-33.

Valentine, P.S. & Johnson, S.J. 2000. Butterflies of southwestern Queensland with life history

notes. Victorian Entomologist 30(5): 59-62.

Key to Table:

Note 1.

Note 2.

Note 3.

Note 4.

Note 5.

Note 6.

Note 7.

A male (dry season form) of C. pyranthe was netted as it fed at the flowers of

garden-grown bushes of Duranta erecta (dark purple-flowered variety)

(Verbenaceae) between 0900-0930h AEST near the entrance to a caravan

park, east of the town centre.

A female C. pomona was seen as it fed at the flowers of Grey Mistletoe,

Amyema quandang (Loranthaceae) between 1030-1200h AEST in remnant

woodland along the roadside. (J did not record the seasonal form of the adult

in my field note diary, but it would have been the dry season form on

circumstantial evidence).

The adult of £. herla was photographed as it fed at a Sida sp. (Malvaceae)

(between 1430-1520h AEST), 1n spinifex woodland at the entrance to the

National Park.

A solitary male E. hecabe taken, whilst feeding at a flower of Duranta erecta

L. (dark purple-flowered variety) (Verbenaceae) between 0900-0930h

AEST, may represent a record of vagrancy at this disjunct and inland

location. A number of unusual range expansions for various species of

butterfly and moth were reported over the 2010-2012 period in southeastern

Australia (Dunn 2011b,c Halsey 2011, Dunn & Field 2012, Faithfull & Dunn

2012, Morton 2012, Hewish & Hewish 2013, Haywood 2014), and this

encounter may be linked to that phenomenon.

Atkins et al. (2003) and Meyer et al. (2013) each recorded El. parthia at one

or more sites in White Mountains National Park; this wilderness region is

also outside the range given by Braby (2000) but is not as far inland as this

new record.

A male of El. parthia was netted as it fed in company with a few adults of

Nacaduba_ biocellata and numerous Zizina otis (between 1535-1625h

AEST), at a flowering Whitewood, Atalaya hemiglauca (Sapindaceae)

erowing in a cleft near the mesa escarpment, in woodland.

Valentine and Johnson (2000: 60) broadly recorded El. parthia as present

“between St George and Cunnamulla”, which presupposes a more or less

continuous range across that part of inland southern Queensland. Their

statement of distribution would infer that the species was found at (or in

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suitable habitat nearby at) both end-point towns listed, and that it presumably

occurred at one or more sites in between as well (as internally supportive).

(However, if those authors had actually intended just one or more locations

midway (rather than the endpoints), then they presumably would have listed

those specific locations with a road distance, as they did for other species). I

took one male and saw another (which was likely a male as well) at this new

location; my record from Hebel (a border settlement situated SW of St

George) is well beyond the distribution provided by Braby (2000) and is

southwardly adjunctive to the updated and enlarged distribution given by

Valentine and Johnson (2000).

Note 8. The solitary worn male of C. perimale taken flying in Acacia woodland, may

represent a record of vagrancy at this inland location; the adult approached

the form with the brown hind wing underside. A number of unusual range

expansions for various species of butterfly and moth were reported over the

2010-2012 period in southeastern Australia (see supportive references in

Note 4).

Note 9. An aged female of D. argenthona was seen repeatedly flying about Lysiana

subfalcata (Loranthaceae) at the Barcoo River crossing, at 42 km ESE of

Blackall, Qld; it did not oviposit 1n my presence and there were no flowers

evident to attract it, but it appeared to be visually inspecting the plant and/or,

perhaps, responding to olfactory cues. L. subfalcata 1s not a known larval

host that I am aware of, but this Jezebel has been reported from L. maritima

(Moss 2005), which was based on my personal observation at Twin Waters,

near Maroochydore Qld (Dunn 2007, Moss 2007).

Note 10. The presence of several males of D. argenthona, mostly seen flying high up

about the crowns of tall River Red Gums growing on the levy, would suggest

a local breeding population had established along the Murrumbidgee River

system at this location, far beyond the known distribution of this species in

NSW. Their presence may have represented a temporary range expansion

that occurred during several wetter-than-usual seasons (see commentary for

Note 3). A male was taken after 1t descended to feed, several metres above

eround, alongside some females of Papilio demoleus, at a tall, garden-grown,

Crimson bottlebrush (Callistemon sp. probably viminalis; Myrtaceae)

between 1030-1040h AEST. There are very few observations of butterflies

available for this township (as well as for that general area of outback NSW),

and I did not chance upon any more of the Scarlet Jezebel on a return visit in

December 2013; I call on others to gather evidence as to whether this

butterfly is a regular resident at Bourke.

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Note 11. A male of D. aganippe was seen feeding in company with Nacaduba

Note 12.

biocellata and Zizina otis, at a flowering Whitewood Atalaya hemiglauca

(Sapindaceae) in open woodland, between 1300-1320h AEST.

A few males of D. aganippe were seen patrolling the taller trees adjacent the

roadside rest area, in mid-afternoon, between 1400-1425h AEST. One male

descended to feed, albeit still several metres above ground, at the flowers of

Grey Mistletoe, Amyema quandang (Loranthaceae), whereupon it was

netted. About a kilometre farther up the road (at 25km NW of the township),

I saw several males of Belenois java, a female of Elodina padusa, a male of

Theclinesthes miskini as well as an unsexed adult of Nacaduba biocellata

feeding at flowers of Grey Mistletoe, earlier in the afternoon that same day.

In addition, an adult of Lampides boeticus flew about the mistletoe flowers

briefly, then perched on foliage nearby (which overlooked the flowers), but it

did not feed whilst I watched on that same visit. This roadside strip of mixed

woodland, buffered by dense and tall Mitchell grass, seemed quite rich in

butterflies, and across two visits (October 2011 & 2012), I recorded adults of

17 species in the |.1km stretch from the rest area — a sizeable tally for the

inland in this region.

Table la. Forty-nine new locations for species of Pieridae from beyond their

known ranges in Australia

Species/Location State Geocode Date

Catopsilia pyranthe

Bladensburg historic homestead, Old 22°30’S, 143°02’E 06 Oct 2012

at woolshed

1.6km NE by E of Charleville Old 26°24’S, 146°1S°E 28 Sep 2012

30 Sep 2012

Bogan River bridge, at 1.3km NW NSW 31°33’S, 147°1 VE 16 Dec 2013

by W of Nyngan

95km N by W of Condobolin NSW 32°19’S, 146°58’°E 16 Dec 2013

C. pomona

Muttaburra Qld 22°36°S, 144°33’°E 04 Oct 2012

Aramac, N of Barcaldine Old 22°58’°S, 145°14’E 04 Oct 2012

lkm S of Barcaldine Old 23°34’S, 145°17°E 04 Oct 2012

Isisford Old 24°16’°S, 144°26’°E 03 Oct 2002

Blackall Qld 24°26°S, 145°28°E 02 Oct 2012

l16km W by S of Blackall (along Qld 24°27°S, 145°20’E 03 Oct 2012

road to Isisford)

24km NW by rd of Tambo Old 24°45’S, 146°06’E 26 Oct 2011

Tambo aa 24°53’S, 146°1S’E 02 Oct 2012

18km N of Augathella 25°39°S, 146°30’°E Ol Oct 2012

hdd Wf 4 WW

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41km NNE of Charleville

1.6km NE by E of Charleville

l1km S by W of Charleville

12km S by W of Charleville

25km S by W of Charleville (at

4km N of Angellala Creek)

Eurema laeta

Walker Creek, at 28km by road

NNE of Normanton

Normanton, at drain near Travers

Street

E. herla

Craggs grave, 27km SSW by road

of Winton

Surprise Creek, at Top Crossing,

at southern boundary of

Bladensburg National Park

E. smilax

27km E of Norseman

13km N of Scaddan (at Truslove

Road junction)

Qld

26°06°S, 146°25’°E

26°24°S, 146°15’E

26°29°S, 146°13’°E

26°30°S, 146°12’E

26°37°S, 146° 10°E

17°28°S, 141° VE

L7T°41°S, 141°04°E

22°34'S, 142°S7°E

22°34’S, 142°58’°E

32°05’S, 122°01"E

33°19"S, 121°42’°E

01 Oct 2012

30 Sep 2012

25 Oct 2011

12 Oct 2012

13 Oct 2012

14 Oct 2012

12 Oct 2012

14 Oct 2012

06 Oct 2012

10 Oct 2008

15 Oct 2008

Table 1b. Forty-nine new locations for species of Pieridae from beyond their

known ranges in Australia (continued)

Location

E. hecabe

1.6km NE by E of Charleville

post office (at van park)

Elodina parthia

Bottle Tree Lookout, 58km NE of

Hughenden

18km SE by E of Winton, in cleft

on mesa

24km NW by rd of Tambo

25km SE of Tambo, at highest

point on road

Tara River, at Hebel

State

Qld

Geocode

26°24’S, 146°15°E

20°28°S, 144°24°E

20°29°S, 143°117E

24°45’S, 146°06’E

25°O1'S, 146°26°E

28°98'S, 147°48°E

Date

30 Sep 2012

28 Oct 2011

O05 Oct 2012

26 Oct 2011

02 Oct 2012

17 Nov 2011

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El. walkeri

Chillagoe

Skm SE of Chillagoe

Cepora perimale

l1km N by E of Roma

10km SE by S of Hebel

Delias argenthona

Walker Creek, at 28km NNE of

Normanton

lkm S of Barcaldine

Barcoo River bridge, Isistord

Barcoo River at 42km ESE of

Blackall

25km NW by rd of Tambo

Tambo

29km NNE of Charleville

1.6km NE by E of Charleville

Wyandra (in hotel rear garden off

Watrego Street)

Ikm S of Cunnamulla (at van

park)

Darling River at Bourke, near

Short St (close to Rotary Park)

D. aganippe

39km E of Isisford

l16km W by S of Blackall

24km NW by rd of Tambo, at

picnic area

Beacon Hill Lookout, 1.6km E of

Norseman

Qld

NSW

Qld

NSW

Qld

17°09°S, 144°31°E

L7° 11'S, 144°33°E

26°28°S, 148°48’°E

29°02°S, 147°52°E

17°28’S, 141° VE

23°34’S, 145°17°E

24°160°S, 144°27°E

24°35’S, 145°49°E

24°45’S, 146°00’°E

24°53’S, 146°15°E

26°11°S, 146°22’°E

26°24’S, 146°15’E

27°15°S, 145°59°E

28°05’S, 145°41’E

30°05’S, 145°57°E

24°16’S, 144°48°E

24°27’S, 145°20°E

24°45’S, 146°06’E

32°12°S, 121°49"E

12 Jan 2002

14 Nov 2011

17 Nov 2011

14 Oct 2012

04 Oct 2012

03 Oct 2012

02 Oct 2012

01 Oct 2012

30 Sep 2012

27 Sep 2012

26 Sep 2012

03 Oct 2002

03 Oct 2012

O02 Oct 2012

10 Oct 2008

13 Oct 2008

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Photos Kelvyn Dunn

S to oo Go Oo to ta ce Go Oo Co co co to to t

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Key to Figures:

1. E. laeta. Female; feeding at damp sand near drain at Normanton, Qld.

2. E. herla. Surprise Creek, at Top Crossing, at the southern entry to Bladensburg National

Park, Qld.

3. El. parthia. Female; 24 km NW of Tambo, Qld.

4. El. parthia. Male roosting; 25 km SE of Tambo, Qld.

5. El. parthia. Male at Tara River, near the Hebel Hotel, Qld.

6. El. walkeri. 5km E of Chillagoe, Qld. feeding at undetermined flowers

7. C. perimale. Roosting male; 11 km N by E of Roma, Qld.

8. D. argenthona. Barcoo River, at 42 km ESE of Blackall, Qld.

9. D. argenthona. Male; 29 km NNE of Charleville, Qld.

10. D. argenthona. Male; perched high up on eucalypt in hotel garden, at Wyandra, Qld

ok cok oe 2k ak ak 2k 2k ok

Life History of a Diurnal Lepidopterist! — Tony Morton

It was wartime, 1943. My father worked for the Indian Civil Service in Delhi. Aged

eight, I was sent to boarding school in Simla, at B.C.S. (Bishop Cotton’s School

otherwise known as Best Cooked Sausages). Simla lies at some 7,000 feet in the

Himalayas, and because of the long, snowy winter we had a three month holiday then

and two ten-day holidays separating the three terms. There was a large buddleia bush

at the edge of the sports field, and several of us would swipe away with our nets at the

wondertul variety of butterflies that came along in plenty. I’ve still got a few in one

of my cases, finally mounted after following me around in a cigar box for forty years!

We had our own names for them, the “Peacock Monal’ (Papilio paris) was a prize, as

were the other Swallowtails (polyctor, krishna, palinurus), which we called Monals

indiscriminately. My father told me that Monal was the vernacular name for the

Himalayan Pheasant, which also has a magnificent iridescent blue and green plumage.

Then there were the ‘Rice Monals’, (P. polytes, perhaps) called this because of the

white spots along the termens of the wings, shaped like grains of rice. Others were

just ‘Riceys’. I imagine these must have been various Euploeas. We called P.

demoleus the ‘Cornflower’, Cyrestis thyodamus the ‘Mappy’, Junonia orithya the

‘Lady’s Fancy’, J. hierta the “Gentleman’s Fancy’, Kaninska canace the ‘Blue

Admiral’. There were also many Little Brown Jobs (probably Ypthimas) we saw on

walks. We called them ‘Hoppys’ and believed they were a sign of rain coming! I’m

ashamed to say we took no notice of the Blues and Skippers (which are of such great

interest to me now), considering them of no use to man nor beast!

Some of us kept large beetles, Stag, Rhinoceros, Hercules, in our pockets, happily

sucking on a quarter of apple, making a contented buzzing sound (the beetles, not

us!). We would put them on the table and try to make them ‘fight’. They would

lumber towards each other, often missing their opponent but sometimes colliding.

When they did, it was usually the Rhino that would ‘win’. His frontal ‘horn’ could tip

the opposing beetle over on its back. A cheer would go up.

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 25

Then it would be supper time. We sat in tables of eight. The ‘bearers’ always

impressed me enormously. They would be loaded up with eight full plates, four on

each arm, and serve the whole table by shrugging each pair down their arms until the

last pair was 1n their hands! I don’t remember one plate ever being dropped. I longed

to be a bearer when I grew up.

During one ten day holiday I stayed with my mother in a Simla hotel. My father

couldn’t get away from Delhi because of work. I met a delightful man whom I later

realized was areal collector, but of moths. His room smelt splendidly scientific for it

was also his laboratory. He was breeding moths in cages. We went out after nightfall

and walked round the streets of Simla seeing what moths had been attracted to

streetlights. He gave me the cocoon of an Indian Moon Moth. I kept it in a box fora

long time. Eventually the moth emerged and the most beautiful thing it was, pale

ereen with pinkish veining and astonishingly long, delicate tails.

Then we went back to England where I found things very dull by comparison, though

I do remember a wonderful flight of Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus) in autumn

1947, I think. Cricket and football were now claiming my attention. They seemed

important to me then, though now I feel my spare time could have been far better

spent studying Natural History! Besides, instead of playing Army cricket in Hong

Kong, where I was doing National Service, I could have been sitting at the feet of

Colonel J. N. Eliot, specialist in the Lycaenidae, who was serving there too in 1955. I

only discovered this years later. It was also years later that I found out that I had

spent a year in Switzerland almost next door to Vladimir Nabokov, novelist and

taxonomist, particularly expert on Alpine butterflies. He was living in a Montreux

hotel at the time, 1966. I was teaching at a school nearby wasting time again

coaching various sports instead of getting to know Nabokov who by then, I believe,

only had time for, and was only civil to, other butterfly collectors!

But all was not lost! In 1969 I came to Melbourne and though Victoria has only about

100 species of butterfly, and the whole of Australia only about 400 (compare this with

the island of Singapore which has (alas, now, had?) 1200 species at least!), I found a

lot of my old friends from the buddleia bush in Simla here, especially in North

Queensland, and have been very interested in them ever since.Now (2014), worried

about the collection as I was losing interest and not taking care of it, I tried to leave it

to an Australian museum, but there was so much ‘foreign’ material 1n it they didn’t

want all of it and I was unwilling to split it up. I also tried the Hope Museum at

Oxtord, but I would have had to pay for the packing and shipment myself. So I have

given it to Florida University (McGuire Institute). This is a highly regarded Institute

of Biodiversity. They sent a curator out to stay with us to pack it up and take it away

to join the eight million other insect specimens in their collections! So it has gone

to the New World — an area where I’ve never collected! Better than ending up on a

bonfire, or being gradually eaten by other insects, I think! We’re hoping for an

invitation to visit there in due course!

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 26

Display frame

of mainly New

Guinean

butterflies plus

a Madagascan

moth.

Photo

Tony Morton

Se i ie

A sampler of Castiarina (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) diversity —

Peter J. Lang

c/- South Australian Museum

North Tce, Adelaide 5001

Castiarina, with around 500 recognised species, 1s Australia's largest jewel beetle

genus. Their larvae are wood-borers and poorly known, while the adults, have

evolved to feed on a range of nectar-producing plants and are mostly brightly

coloured and conspicuous. This selection of images illustrates just some of the

diversity of form and colour patterns found in South Australian Castiarina, together

with the host plant species on which they were collected.

For further information on Castiarina, see:

e Barker, S. 2006. 'Castiarina: Australia's richest jewel beetle genus’ South

Australian Museum & University of Adelaide. 341 pp.

e = http://www. environment. gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-

resources/fauna/atfd/taxa/Castiarina

e http://researchdata.museum.vic.gov.au/padil/jewels/castiarina.htm]

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 27

Castiarina aeneicornis, PL2040, Castiarina argillacea, PLO300,

on Leptospermum coriaceum on Babingtonia behrii

Castiarina bicolor, PLO193, Castiarina chinnocki, PL0353A,

on Leptospermum myrsinoides on Eremophila scoparia

ar 7 a

eo \

} y

5 7

Castiarina crenata, PL2422, Castiarina crux, PL0524,

on Leptospermum continentale on Eucalyptus socialis

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 28

Castiarina duaringae, PLO803A, Castiarina dugganensis, PL1534B,

on Eremophila scoparia on Acacia ancistrophylla

Castiarina erythromelas, PL2882, Castiarina erythroptera, PLO785,

on Leptospermum continentale on Myoporum platycarpum

vi .

Castiarina eyrensis, PL2568, Castiarina flava, PL2714,

on Acacia papyrocarpda on Eucalyptus socialis

is oo oo Oo Co to oo Oo to to to Oo Os to to Oo to to «tT

Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 29

Castiarina gardnerae, PL1412B, Castiarina gibbicollis, PLO&30E,

on Melaleuca lanceolata on Grevillea pterosperma

Castiarina marginicollis, PL1065, Castiarina pallidiventris, PLO308A,

on ELucalyptus porosa on Babingtonia behrii

Castiarina tepperi, PL0836, Castiarina vanderwoudeae, PLO168,

on Grevillea pterosperma on Eremophila scoparia

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 30

The sabi aiid Web - Bide pa fal

On 4" July 2014, ‘The Fragile Web’ was

aN piles as Sa *) opened in the small country town of

eee F Blackbutt, 160 km north-west of

ei iF SCBrisbane. The name speaks for itself.

m™ Fostering an appreciation of the ‘Natural

Heritage’ of the area (and an awareness

of the challenges it faces), as well as

encouraging better stewardship of the

= planet, are core aims of ‘The Fragile

> Web’.

pi PR end Displays highlighting different

vn irenientit issues, photos a some wad our native flowers taken along the Brisbane

Valley Rail Trail by a local photographer, and information handouts help to present

this message. Environmental books and grey-water friendly products (with a discount

offered for a ‘refill — not landfill’) are for sale and, because man is part of this ‘fragile

web’, there is a range of ‘Fair Trade’ items and ethically produced, hand-made gifts.

These are promoted as a means of helping the developing-world’s disadvantaged

people work their way out of poverty without being exploited.

Although there are a few exotic trees in the garden, it is being extended with the

addition of a number of local native plants, many of these being butterfly host plants.

As well, an “Incredible Edible’ garden has been started at the rear of the building.

There are vegetables and herbs already being harvested. The Incredible Edible

movement started in 2008 in Yorkshire, UK. Although people are invited to help

themselves from these gardens, it 1s not all about free food. Their purpose is to remind

us that food can be grown close to home.

It is expected that this is just a beginning and that the Fragile Web will evolve as time

goes on. Suggestions are already being made and are welcome. It 1s planned to have

guest speakers and different activities on a regular basis. The first of these was held

on lst November when Helen Schwencke, co-author of “Create More Butterflies’,

visited to give a talk, walk and evening light-trapping.

The building 1s situated on the main road through town (75 Coulson Street) and is

presently open Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons (12pm to 4pm). I would

be happy to open at other times by appointment. Phone 4170 0555 or email

thefragileweb@gmail.com

“Humankind has not woven this web of life. We are but one thread within it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All

things connect’. (Attributed to Chief Seattle)

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 31

Parts of the display at the Fragile Web

Photos Wendy Benfer

YOU ASKED

Peter Kuttner from Mt Tamborine wanted to know the

identity of the attached lacewing from Mt T.

As there are no dedicated books nor websites he

thought one of our readers may be able to help.

i i i

Hii

——

hte

a ~— we. Pir > ~t ata i on ~~ = ° on

Fe RES Se a ee See ee =)

—* teal * r as . * a = a’ ~ * * —-—

le - T fay. ~ = ~ =e 44, ye $ win * ?” “. =

ie es See aot ‘ee et

° . - a

- a _— -

oe...

— T

. “a

—

This nest was found by a friend on

0. the ground, having been blown out

; of a tree during a storm. It had been

located high up 1n a eucalypt at Mount Cotton in

the Redlands. I am curious to know what type of

insect (bee or wasp?) has made this intricate

Structure, which measured 50cm x 35cm.

Lois Hughes Photo John Moss

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 32

b, The structure is the nest of a

as JA. social paper wasp, Ropalidia

romandi subspecies cabeti,

which is about 6-8 mm long. Its colour

pattern is yellow and brown, with yellow

stripes on black on the dorsum of the

thorax. The nest, as can be seen in the

aoe photographs, consists of many layers of

. a papery combs surrounded by an

4 | —

irregularly shaped paper envelope. These

nests are usually attached to the

underside of a large branch high up in a

tree, usually a eucalypt. They eventually

fall during a storm or when the tree sheds its bark. In this case we have heard that nest

building began again shortly after this one fell and is rapidly growing in size.

What interests us 1s why the insects constantly extend the combs of their nest for

production of new larvae and don’t appear to use the old combs. Although they feed

on nectar and are often seen on flowers, do they use the combs to store nectar like

bees do for honey? They are also known to predate on caterpillars to feed their larvae,

but how 1s this food processed?

Perhaps other readers could throw more light on their life history, including their food

preferences. John Moss

Ropalidia romandi subspecies cabeti

Photo Robert Ashdown

Left - Outer paper covering (and showing branch attachment point) of nest of paper wasp

Ropalidia romandi subspecies cabeti

Right - Nest of paper wasp Ropalidia romandi subspecies cabeti showing adult wasps

Photos by Richard Zietek published in his book “Social Wasps of Brisbane”

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 33

Metamorphosis June 2014 included a picture from John

Mansfield of a woven case hanging from a branch.

On 24 April 2011, I saw the same structure at Wambool

Nature Reserve, a few kilometres east of Bathurst, NS W, and

sent my photo to the Australian Museum. They advised that it

is almost certainly the egg sac of an Orb- Weaver

Spider. Whilst there were adult Orb-Weavers there on the day

(both females, and the much smaller males), the egg sac was

at least 10 metres away from any adult spiders on their webs.

Wambool NR 1s at 970 metres altitude. It’s dry sclerophyll

woodland, of undulating hills and an open understorey, some

bare areas but mainly with lovely shrubs and herbs.

Irene Denton

Ed: John Marshall ts still waiting for something to emerge from the egg =

sac he photographed. Photo Irene Denton

LETTER

When we were on holiday in Western Victoria earlier this year, we came across this

large exterior placard on the site, of all places, the public convenience in a tiny town

between Camperdown and Cressy — possibly Foxhow (at any rate in the Lake

Corangamite area).

Look out for me

the Gotden Sar Moth (Synenor

plore) is « broare Cotoured

deytime ying moth. 1 is feed le

(ar naslaenets

Golden Sun Moth

Colac Otway | |. J —

The text encapsulates the life history and distribution of the ‘critically endangered’

Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana).

It seems unusual (but gratifying) to see the Colac-Otway Shire publicizing the

awareness and protection of a lepidoptera species, and I thought it was worth

recording for interest’s sake. With best wishes Alan Hyman

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 34

ARTICLES FROM PAST ISSUES

From issue #24 March 2002

The Bright Cornelian Butterfly - Deudorix diovis: A bit of unsolved science in

our own backyard.

The Bright Cornelian (Deudorix diovis, pronounced Due-dor-1x die-o-vis), 1s a

member of the Lycaenid or "Blues, Coppers and Hairstreaks" butterfly family. It

occurs only in Australia and Papua New Guinea (Parsons, 1999); in Australia, it

occurs at Darwin and Coen, and sporadically from Atherton, North Queensland, south

to the Gosford and Sydney regions of New South Wales, with the possibility of

breeding populations occurring further south (Braby, 2000).

The genus Deudorix, to which the Bright Cornelian belongs, contains some 70 species

commonly named 'Cornelian’' and 'Playboy' and is found in most regions of the

Australian and Indo-Malayan archipelagoes.

There have even been several recent additions to this genus of butterflies from the

Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (W.J. Tennant, 2000).

The Bright Cornelian was once considered a subspecies of the Dull or Northern

Cornelian (Deudorix epijarbis), which occurs in North Queensland. However, it was

found that both Cornelians occurred together; 1n North Queensland larvae of both

species have been found on the same host plant, indicating that the Dull and Bright

Cornelians are separate species. Subsequently, the Bright Cornelian has been

assigned a specific rank (D. diovis), whilst the Dull Cornelian (D. epijarbis dido)

remains a subspecies of the species epijarbis.

The Bright Cornelian is an enigma, with many aspects of this species biology

unknown until relatively recently. Once considered a generally uncommon, rarely

seen species (Common and Waterhouse, 1981), the Bright Cornelian is now

considered a fairly common, although local, species. Its success is most likely due to

the introduction of two of its many host plants to streets and gardens, specifically

Cupaniopsis anacardioides (Tuckeroo) and Harpullia pendula (Tulipwood). These

two species are commonly planted as street trees, particularly on the Sunshine Coast

and in Brisbane. A particularly good place to see this butterfly in Brisbane 1s along the

Brisbane River in front of the Queensland Museum, where its host Cupaniopsis

anacardioides, the Tuckeroo, grows along the riverside pathway. This species has

also been known as a minor pest of Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia integrifolia) and

Litchis (Litchi chinensis). Lindsay Popple has also reared a specimen from

Diploglottis australis (L.Popple, pers. comm.). Like most members of the Cornelian

eroup, the Bright Cornelian 1s a rapidly flying species, with the two sexes spatially

separated (1.e., the male and female butterflies occupy different positions within an

overall habitat). For example, the males of this species stake out territories on or

around its host tree, perching head down on tall trees, fiercely defending their turf

with the full spirit of a World War Two fighter pilot! Any insect, particularly other

Lycaenids, daring to enter the territory of this species will be immediately engaged in

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 35

a spectacular mid-air dogfight, with the insects flashing across the sky, in line, wings

beating furiously. It 1s therefore no wonder that males collected in the wild are

frequently damaged or worn!

In contrast to the rapidly flying males, the females are damsels of the treetops, gently

fluttering about inside the canopy of its host plant, seeking out the fruits upon which

the ova are laid. The life history of this species, although well mentioned in literature,

is incomplete, with the author preparing a full description for publication soon.

The ova are very comparable to a mandarin 1n both shape and shell patterning (the

shells of many insect eggs are often adorned with intricate patterns formed by ribs and

depressions) and are laid directly on the fruits of its host plants. Usually, the site of

oviposition is in the well-defined clefts or sutures on surface of the fruits. However,

ova have also been observed inside the fruits of Harpullia pendula previously

attacked by larvae of this species, the female ovipositing through holes bored by

previous larvae.

The larvae of this species attack the fruits of their hosts by boring into their flesh. In

Harpullia pendula, the fruit 1s encapsulated by a ssrapi

thin shell, through which the larvae also bore,

allowing females to oviposit inside the shell as

well as in external clefts. The larvae feed on the

insides of fruits of all hosts, frequently ;

completely eating out the insides of the fruits [sariaot Dondonix dinws

themselves. In H. pendula, the entire fruit 1s eaten Sketch by John Neilsen

(hence the numerous empty pods found on street

trees) and, in times of limited food, the shell may be completely eaten (observed in

captivity only). This species also attacks the Macadamia Nut, with larvae observed

attacking even the maturing nuts of this species.

The larvae themselves are slug-like and quite colorful, the early instar larvae (Nielsen,

in prep.) being light yellow with light brown or orange bands and are covered in

numerous semi-translucent hairs, or setae. The mature larvae are distinctly different,

being dark orange with a blue-grey border.

The species pupates either in the hollowed out fruit/shell of its host or in leaf litter at

the base of the tree, with the latter appearing to be more common with the Tuckeroo.

However, on Macadamia Nut, the species appears to pupate exclusively inside the

fruits, with pupation in leaf litter not yet observed, although quite possible.

The larvae and pupae of this species have occasionally been found to be attended by

the Coastal Brown Ant (Crematogaster? sp), and another unidentified species of ant

Uridomyrmix? sp.), which has been recorded by photographs lent to the author by Dr.

Bert Orr. Other ants recorded in attendance with this species are listed by Braby (2000).

As 1s quite clear, much work is required on this species. I have been ‘about to publish’

the previously undescribed early instar stages of this species’ life history and

biological observations since 1999, but every time I solve an existing problem or

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 36

revise my description of the larvae, a new problem to be solved arises. Like in all

sciences, the more we discover about a particular subject, the more we find we don't

know! John Neilsen

References:

Nielsen, J.E. (in prep), The Life History of Deudorix diovis

(Lepidoptera:Lycaenidae) with notes on its biology.

Braby, M.F. (2000) Butterflies of Australia Their Identification, Biology

and Distribution, CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia.

Common, I.F.B. & Waterhouse, D.F. (1981) The Butterflies of Australia, Angus

and Robertson, Sydney, Australia.

Parsons, M. (1999) The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea their Systematics and

Biology, Academic Press, Sydney, Australia.

Tennent, W.J. (2000) Notes on Deudorix Hewitson in the Solomon Islands, the

Bismark Archipelago, and New Guinea, with descriptions of nine new taxa, The

Australian Entomologist 27 (1): 9-26, Swift Graphics, Brisbane.

Acknowledgments: I would like to thank my family for collecting Harpullia seeds

and feeding hungry Deudorix larvae during a trip to Canberra, for coping with the

Ornithoptera setting on the table, the entomological cabinets taking over the living

room, the expeditions to Buderim Forest Park and enduring the smell of naphthalene

in the house for the last 10 years. John Moss, Donald Sands, Albert Orr, Geoff

Waite, Graham Forbes and Michael Rix are all thanked for their valued inputs and

changes to the forthcoming paper on this topic.

IS IS FS OE OS SIS IS TK OK OK

From Issue #21 June 2001

New Site for Rare Bulloak Jewel, Hypochrysops piceata

The writer attended the Queensland Naturalists’ Club

2001Easter camp from April 13"-16" April which was

held at the cattle property of Gavan Lahey, situated about

35 km north-east of Goondiwindi. The country is a

patchwork of eucalypt woodland on loamy soil, Bulloak

and “Cypress” pine forest on poor sandy soil and

Brigalow/Belah on heavy black clay soils. Adjoining the

property on the south is the 11,000 acre Bendidee State Forest and the 2,000 acre

Bendidee National Park — both of which contain undisturbed representatives of these

forest types. In particular there are some large mature Belahs (Casuarina cristata)

and Bulloaks (Allocasuarina luehmannii).

The writer considered the latter habitat suitable for the small and rare “Darling

Downs” (now “Bulloak’’) Jewel (Hypochrysops piceata) as mature borer-holed

Bulloaks, the host tree, were present as well as colonies of the butterfly’s attendant

ant, the repulsive smelling Anonychomyrma sp (itinerans group).

Subsequently, with assistance from son Ronald and fellow Nat. Jill Don, the Bulloak

treetops were scanned with binoculars for evidence of the little butterfly. Once the

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 37

first one was spotted, many others soon appeared — some flying with the usual silvery

appearance, and others resting characteristically head down on flimsy branchlets at

the top of the trees. Some also flew around and perched on adjacent Angophoras. At

one stage a female flew right down to within less than a metre from my face —

unfortunately without my net handy it was not possible to collect this as a voucher

specimen, but it did confirm the identity with certainty.

Currently this butterfly is known only from a limited area on the Darling Downs at

Leyburn. The butterfly has not been seen in recent years at its original collecting site

at Millmerran, which is between Leyburn and this new site at Goondiwindi. There

have been other unconfirmed sightings at Cecil Plains (M. DeBaar pers.com.) and a

single roadside sighting nearer to Goondiwindi (D. Sands pers.com.). It quite

possibly exists in the vast Barakula State Forest to the north of Chinchilla where there

are still scattered stands of mature Bulloak. John Moss

KHKEEKKKKKKSE

From issue #16 March 2000

Plant Profile - Senna surratensis

It’s not often one finds a butterfly host plant that is reliable and also performs well in

a traditional garden but this is one of them. It had been languishing in my garden for

many years, an ugly duckling which has now become a beautiful swan.

This plant has had many name changes through the years as have some of the other

plants once known as cassias. This and the cultivation of some foreign cassias has

created a bit of confusion about the correct name of this particular plant. When I

bought mine it was called Cassia retusa, the climbing cassia. Accordingly I planted it

in the shade of another tree and waited for it to do its climbing thing. It didn’t. It tried

to become a shrub and only flowered occasionally.

Neither did it attract any Yellow Migrant butterflies to my

yard. This butterfly is very similar to the lemon migrant but

its outside wings are a more rich golden yellow. The inside

forewing is white while the hindwing 1s golden and once you

learn to look for this difference it becomes easy to separate

them.

Yellow Migrant

When I saw this plant growing in another members garden I realised my mistake. His

plant was growing in full sun and it was flowering profusely. He also confirmed that

his plant had had yellow migrants breeding on it.

Shortly after that I removed the tree that shaded my Senna. It wilted at first but then

recovered to put on a spurt of growth. About the time it started forming the first

flower buds we had a yellow migrant butterfly move in and soon the plant was

covered in lots of eggs.

Now that my plant is growing in the sun it looks a lot like the garden plant commonly

called the Easter Cassia because of its habit of flowering around Easter. The Easter

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Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 38

cassia has round seed pods compared with the flat seed pods of Senna surattensis and

is not a host of the yellow migrant.

The story does not end yet.

Senna surattensis 18 one of a group of plants that has evolved an unusual method of

pollination called buzz pollination. Instead of having pollen on the outside of the

stamens it occurs bottled up on the inside of the stamens. Any insect wishing to

collect this pollen must vibrate the stamen until the pollen 1s released. European

honeybees don’t do this very well thereby leaving this valuable resource available for

those native bees able to buzz pollinate flowers.

In my garden at least five different species of native bees are able to accomplish this

trick and can often be seen buzzing around the flowers. I have not had the heart to

catch any and send them away for scientific identification. There is one large yellow

and black carpenter bee and a very small version of this bee. There is a medium sized

banded orange bee and two different species of blue-banded bees. Sometimes it gets

quite crowded and some of the bees appear to be trying to head butt each other. Also a

leafcutter bee came and cut away pieces of the leaves for its nearby nest. I did not see

this bee visiting the flowers.

This is a versatile plant 1s easily propagated from seed though it can grow slowly at

first. It is a great addition to any butterfly garden. Frank Jordan

BUTTERFLY AND OTHER INVERTEBRATES CLUB PROGRAMME

Planning and General Meeting

what: Oetails please

When: Saturday from 10 am

Where: -— address provided on RSVP

Who: All members are welcome.

RSVP: Ross Kendall on 07 3378 1187, 0402 254 370 ross@butterflyencounters.com

We A SWe A SWe BSW BA SWe BSW A SWe BO SWe A SWe A SWe A SWe BSW A Se A S¥e A SW BSW A SY BOSSY A SW

Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 39

DISCLAIMER

The magazine seeks to be as scientifically accurate as possible but the views, opinions and

observations expressed are those of the authors. The magazine 1s a platform for people, both

amateur and professional, to express their views and observations about invertebrates. These

are not necessarily those of the BOIC. The manuscripts are submitted for comment to

entomologists or people working in the area of the topic being discussed. If inaccuracies have

inadvertently occurred and are brought to our attention we will seek to correct them in future

editions. The Editor reserves the right to refuse to print any matter which is unsuitable,

inappropriate or objectionable and to make nomenclature changes as appropriate.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Producing this magazine is done with the efforts of:

e Those members who have sent in letters and articles

Lois Hughes who provided the cover painting

Daphne Bowden who works on layout, production and distribution

John Moss and Dr Anne Dollin for scientific referencing

and proof reading of various articles in this issue of the

magazine ee

e Printing of this publication is proudly supported by TTT

Brisbane City Council Ee

We would like to thank all these people for their contribution. Ppedjcated to a hetter Brisbane

ARE YOU A MEMBER?

Please check your mailing label for the date your membership is due for renewal. If your

membership is due, please renew as soon as possible. Membership fees are $30.00 for

individuals, schools and organizations. If you wish to pay electronically, the following

information will assist you: BSB: 484-799, Account No: 001227191, Account name: BOIC,

Bank: Suncorp, Reference: your membership number and surname e.g. 234 Roberts.

Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club Inc.

PO Box 2113

RUNCORN Q. 4113

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BEDS PE DS PF DE bs PE DS pe Pe be Pe be pe Pe bd be bg

Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #75 — Page 40