a . ——— - i ‘’, 5 ‘nok p a* ef vs STI METAMORPHOSIS MUSTRALIA Magazine of the Butterfly & (ther Invertebrates ( lub ISSUE No: 76 DATE: MARCH 2015 ISSN: 1839-9819 Price $6.00 http://www. boic.org.au 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.bowden] @bigpond.com) 07 3396 6334 Lois Hughes 07 3206 6229 Alisha Steward 07 3275 1186 Marie-Louise Johnson 0422 970 184 Jill Fechner 0417 793 659 PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION MEETINGS A quarterly meeting is scheduled 1n 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; e 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 research into invertebrates; ® e To promote the keeping of invertebrates as alternative pets; @ @ To encourage the construction of invertebrate friendly habitats 1n 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 |st Blue Tiger (Tirumala hamata hamata) — Painting by Elaine Allison - prints are available direct from the artist; contact via email at elaineallisonart@gmail.com BEDS REDS PF OE be PE De De Re be Pe be pe Pe bd be bg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 2 FROM THE PRESIDENT The proliferation of insects as a result of recent favourable weather conditions has certainly attracted the attention of a large number of people and of the media. This has provided an opportunity to inform a wider audience of the world of invertebrates. As the Blue Tiger butterfly has been the main focus of public attention, this insect features in our cover story and elsewhere. We thank Wesley Jenkinson and John Moss who have combined to flesh out the knowledge of the readers of our magazine. Elaine Allison’s painting is her first to be published here and I am sure you will admire and appreciate the result of her artistic efforts. Many thanks are owed to the various other contributors whose articles have made this edition of the magazine an interesting and informative read. In particular, I thank Kelvin Dunn who has taken the time to travel extensively, make meticulous observations and produce detailed reports to share his discoveries with us. All members in the Brisbane area are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Club at IndigiScapes, Capalaba on April 18'" next to be followed by a guided walk through the gardens and bush area of this attractive and interesting facility. As I will be retiring from all management committee activities at that time, your presence will assist in the election of, and welcome to, a new BOIC president. Best wishes Ross Life history notes on the Blue Tiger, Tirumala hamata hamata (W.S. Macleay, 1826) Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae ...4 Moths of Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park 2.0.0.0... eeccccsseccceseceeeeeeeeeeeeeees 8 A Summer of Butterflies 2014/2015 (aka the Year of the Tiger) .......... eee ceeeeeee eee es 14 Peacock or Green Carpenter (Xy/ocopa, formerly 1n genus LeSTIS) .........ccseecccseseeeeeeees 16 New Distribution Records for Nymphalid Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Queensland .............. 18 Brown Stag Beetle (Rhyssonotus nebulosuS) 1N Brisbane .............ccccccesscceeeseceeeneceeeeees 34 A Problem with Identifying Moths ........... ccc ccesscccesseccceneccceessccceesceceeesceseescceenecesenees 36 Unusual butterfly life history aberrations .............. cc ceccccssseccceececeeneccceeecceeeeecceeeneceeeeees 37 DEAT STS alee eTevads a voneclbe elevadsa oy dethetahedsnrarnOebhenedelsiterniebherabelseeesethenenedsattek «puedes te read ve Bene dle: 40 Articles from past issues - The Caper White Migration ...............cccccccsssccccesecceeseeeeeeees 40 OMSL GIrOUp Ss: ACTIVI SS 8 Sede cyto devetevleysteraslovreerd sardines sev aeerdscv dee aatidy te beesny need taboos 43 BOG EPG Cranes, cccvscdet iphone tiv aelsindtnes dvanerl edie albrreredbadn acide bended tebe’ 43 BEDS REDS PF De be PE DT De Pe be Pe be pe Pe bd Pe be Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 3 CREATURE FEATURE Life history notes on the Blue Tiger, 7irumala hamata hamata (W.S. Macleay, 1826) Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae - Wesley Jenkinson This well-known butterfly species 1s frequently encountered along much of eastern Queensland. The adults are migratory and can number in their tens of thousands when this occurs. They frequent a wide range of habitats from rainforest to wide open woodlands and erasslands, particularly during migrations. It also penetrates inland west of the Great Dividing Range into the drier regions. Valentine (1988) noted that “although a specimen of the Blue Tiger was not included in the Banks' collection, there is a description in his journal of a vast ageregation of butterflies which appear to have been Blue Tigers”. He further states that “on 29" of May 1770, when Blue Tiger (Zirumala hamata hamata) the Endeavour was about halfway PRO -TRGn JR SOR between (the latitudes of what eventually became) Rockhampton and Mackay, Banks recorded seeing ‘acres’ of them”. The main breeding habitats are dry vine forest and littoral rainforest where the host plants (vines in the family Asclepiadaceae) are growing. In South-east Queensland the main hostplant 1s Secamone elliptica (or Corky Milk Vine) and although Cynanchum carnosum (Mangrove Milk Vine) has been we, © listed in the past, it appears to be rarely used (see J.T.StL. Moss comment in Braby, 2000). In central coastal Queensland the adults ageregate during the winter months in large numbers in moist gullies 1n littoral rainforest (Moss, 1995; Valentine, 1988). Here they perch ; on dead sticks or branches and can be found in company with other nymphalids including Euploea sylvester, E. core and E. tulliolus. *—t*, Aggregation at Shoalwater July 2010 BEDS PE DS Pe PE De be PE be pe he bg be Pe be Pe bd pg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 4 The adults fly in sunny weather and often in warm cloudy conditions and are capable of rapid flight when disturbed. Both sexes are readily attracted to a wide range of small native and introduced flowers and can also be observed imbibing moisture from the ground during hot weather. Within Queensland, individual specimens show slight variation in the size and shape of the blue wing markings. To determine the sexes, males have a clearly visible small protruding pouch on the hindwing underside and a corresponding patch of grey sex scales on the hindwing upperside. r 4 Wingspans for the pictured adult specimens are: male 75mm and females 70mm. = i s i - ees SS a ; / . N= Ovipositing females flutter slowly around the host plants and settle, laying the eggs singly, chiefly on the upperside of fresh young leaves and shoots. The wings often remain slightly open while ovipositing occurs. Females will oviposit within centimetres of ground level if suitable fresh leaves are available. Pe se ! ” G/ \ ‘ ff ‘s - ° % Tirumala hamata hamata (Blue Tiger) Images left to right: male, female In January 2007, an egg was collected from near Beaudesert and raised through to an adult on Corky Milk Vine (S. e/liptica). This egg was barrel shaped, approximately 0.7 mm wide x 1.3 mm high, cream with approx 21 coarse vertical ribs with very fine horizontal lines Freshly laid ego In captivity the larva consumed most of the eggshell soon after hatching and fed from the edges of soft, fresh leaves during daylight hours. It completed five instars and attained a length of 40mm. BEDS PE DS PF OE be PE DT De Re be Pe be a Pe bd be hg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 5 3 instar larva 4" instar larva 5" instar larva The pupa, measuring 21mm in length, was located below a stem of the host plant. It was attached with silk only by the cremaster. Under natural conditions the larvae usually leave the host vine and pupate below a leaf on a nearby shrub or tree. Pupa lateral view Pupa ventral view _ Pupa pre-emergence TASATACACACASACACACACATASACALA CALA CAG Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 6 The total time from egg to adult was almost one month, with egg duration 4 days, larval duration 13 days while pupal duration was 10 days. Within the new boundary of the Scenic Rim Regional Shire south of Brisbane, I have records of adults from late October through to July. In this location they are more numerous from late spring until late summer, with these broods generally flying in a southerly direction. However, this largely relates to the timing of local rainfall triggering fresh growth of the host plants. Numbers of migratory butterflies in this region appeared to be declining in recent years, probably due to habitat damage especially land clearing. Nonetheless, an enormous sich has been occurring in South-east Queensland, starting from early a November 2014, and which is still current in early February 2015 (when this article was written). This has caused much public wonderment and comment leading to local media coverage. In addition a recent visit to Mt French National Park, in the shire near Boonah, 1n company with John Moss, resulted in the finding of many larvae of this butterfly on Secamone elliptica, which was 1n abundance. We felt that this localised breeding aggregation would have contributed 1n part to the current general migration. Mating pair, male at top Acknowledgement: I wish to thank John Moss for reviewing and amending the manuscript to account for historical and host plant information. Photos (except first image) Wesley Jenkinson References: Braby, M.F., 2000. Butterflies of Australia — Their Identification, Biology and Distribution. vol 2. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. Moss, J.T.St L., 1995. Butterfly records from Scawfell Island, Queensland, with a note on the local form of Hesperilla malindeva Lower (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). The Queensland Naturalist 33: (124-130). Valentine, P., 1988. Australian Tropical Butterflies. Frith & Frith Books, Malanda, Qld. PEPE PE DT DE DE PT Pe Re be Pe he be Oe Pe Pe be bd Pe Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 7 ITEMS OF INTEREST Moths of Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park - Graham J. McDonald Introduction Iron Range is located on the eastern side of Cape York Peninsula, a little more than halfway between Cooktown and Cape York, near the settlement of Lockhart River. It contains the largest area of tropical rainforest on Cape York Peninsula. This is due largely to the presence of a high mountain range very close to the coast. The prevailing winds from the south-east are forced to move up the slopes causing cooling and consequent condensation of the moisture. The soils are also quite deep and friable, formed from metamorphic rocks rich in iron. All of the photos were taken between June 29 and July 5, 2014. Most were taken of moths resting on a light sheet. Light traps were set up in a different location in the Iron Range area on seven nights, which even in “winter” never really drops below ~ Tere ew ee See eres el et atest ete ; ec erens sesacets ee wr ee oe eee, eens we @e Fig. | FAMILY ARCTHDAE, S/F: LITHOSITINAE Gymnasura flavia Cook’s Hut Campground, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park G.P.S. 12°42°36.6” S, 143°17°33.09” E. Arctid moths are small to medium, usually with yellow, red, black and white colours. Most are considered poisonous or distasteful to predators. There are believed to be about 280 species in Australia. Fig. 2 F: URANIIDAE, S/F: EPIPLEMINAE Phazaca interrupta Cook’s Hut Campground, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park G.P.S. 12°42’36.6” S, 143°17°33.09” E. BEES Pe DE DT be PED be be Pe be be Re bd De Pe bd bg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 8 The Uraniidae family of moths are large to medium, mostly confined to rainforest habitats in the north of Australia. This species is unusual in that 1t occurs 1n arid zones as well. This species has the unusual resting pose of rolling its forewings. The moth in the photo also had this pose when it landed on the sheet, but then unrolled the forewings into a normal (flattened) position. Fig. 3 F: ARCTHDAE, S/F: LITHOSHNAE Heterallactis phlogozona Old Coen Walk, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park G.P.S. 12°44°14.43” S, 143°15’42.87” E. This genus of arctid moths is tropical and subtropical in distribution. Most have a yellow background wing colour traversed by red or brown bands or broad areas. They are all small to medium in size. Fig. 4 F: CRAMBIDAE, S/F: ACENTROPHINAE Theila triplaga Old Coen Walk, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park G.P.S. 12°44714.43” S, 143°15’42.87” E. This colourful small moth belongs to a group of moths that have aquatic larvae. The larvae have up to four different methods of breathing under water where they feed on aquatic plants. Acentrophinae are generally small to medium moths with orange, yellow, black and white dots and bands, but some such as the common and widespread Hygraula nitens are dull coloured. BEES Pe DE PT be PED be be Pe bd be Re be Pe Pe be bd Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 9 Se Fe Le sate * Fig. 5 F: CRAMBIDAE, S/F: ACENTROPHINAE Parapoynx polydectalis Old Coen Walk, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park G.P.S. 12°44714.43” S, 143°15’42.87” E. This species of aquatic moth seems to have a broad distribution. I have photographed it on several occasions at Mudgeeraba in S.E. Queensland. Fig. 6 F: LIMACODIDAE (Cup Moths) Hydroclada kenricki Old Coen Walk, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park G.P.S. 12°44°14.43” S, 143°15’42.87” E. Cup moths are medium to large moths with wings held steeply roof-wise at rest. The antennal pectinations 1n the male shorten rapidly towards the tip as seen 1n the photo. Larvae, of this group, are well known for their bright colours, slug-like shape and the ability to sting. Fig. 7 F: LACTURIDAE Anticrates metreta Iron Range Road OS OG OG OG OG OG Oo Ue UG Oo Cea UG co co to co to vt Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 10 G.P.S. 12°44’20.86”"S, 143 °14’40.26”E. These moths are small to medium with antennae held out in front of the head at 45”. They have bright colours of red, orange, yellow and black. They are mainly found inhabiting tropical and sub-tropical rainforest areas. Fig. 8 F: SATURNIDAE Neodipthera sulphurea Iron Range Road G.P.S. 12°44’20.86”S, 143 °14’40.26”E. This family contains some of the world’s largest and most popular moths. The species illustrated is not as large as the similar and well-known gum emperor moths and the hercules moths. Larvae are large and colourful with sparse hairs and fleshy turrets. Fig. 9 F: CRAMBIDAE, S/F: SPILOMELINAE Glyphodes actorionalis Iron Range Road G.P.S. 12°44’20.86”S, 143 °14’40.26”E. The Glyphodes moths generally have transparent to translucent wing panels that reflect a bluish or violet light. There are about twenty recorded Australian species, many of which occur in northern Queensland. Fig. 10 F: GEOMETRIDAE, S/F: STERRHINAE Antitrygodes parvimacula Iron Range Road G.P.S. 12°44’20.86”S, 143 °14’40.26”E. This 1s a large species of moth found on Cape York but its range extends from New Guinea to Babinda in Queensland. The larvae are ‘loopers’ and probably feed on plants of the Rubiaceae family. BEES Pe OE DT be PED be be Pe bd Pe Re bd Pe Pe bd be? Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 11 Fig.11 F: NOCTUIDAE, S/F: CATOCALINAE Erebus crepuscularis Gordon Creek, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park. G.P.S. 12°42754.49” S, 143°18°5.19” E. This very large moth occurs in northern Queensland from Thursday Island to Paluma. The similar Erebus terminitincta 1s found from Eungella to Woolgoolga, N.S.W. It differs from Erebus crepuscularis in having a white patch on the costa of the hindwing. Fig.12 F: ARCTITDAE, S/F: LITHOSHUNAE Heliosa sp. Gordon Creek, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park G.P.S. 12°42754.49” S, 143°1875.19” E. Fig.13 F: CRAMBIDAE, S/F: SPILOMELINAE Didymostoma aurotinctalis Portland Roads Road, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park G.P.S. 12°42758.74” S, 143°18735.49” E. This is a medium sized moth and occurs 1n rainforest from Iron Range to the Cairns area. The transparent wing panels are believed to aid in its protection from predators BEES Pe DE DT be PED be be Pe bd be Re Pd Pe Pe bd bd Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 12 by breaking up the shape of the moth, due to green leaf colours passing through the wings. Fig.14 F: ARCTIIDAE, S/F: ARCTIUINAE Amerila nigropunctata Portland Roads Road, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park G.P.S. 12°42’58.74” S, 143°18’35.49” E. There are about six species of Amerila, mainly in tropical Australia, although one, Amerila crokeri comes into northern N.S.W. They all exude a strong-smelling acrid yellow froth, from glands near the wing bases, if they are disturbed. This adaptation would offer protection from predators. Re ee - CAP, *e** Ve eee ee Ce oO eo, s"s 6 & e.**,* . *.* 7 7 _ - 2S af Ce Brinorts ran Dok Oe Te >! ne Fig.15 F: CRAMBIDAE, S/F: SPILOMELINAE Desmia discrepans Gordon Creek, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park. G.P.S. 12°42’54.49” S, 143°18’5.19” E. Fig.16 F: OECOPHORIDAE, S/F:0ECOPHORINAE Piloprepes aemulella Portland Roads Road, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park This 1s a small to medium brightly coloured moth that comes from a very large family of usually drab moths It was finally photographed after a long chase through heath and open savannah woodland. Photos Graham McDonald References: Common, I. F. B. (1990) Moths of Australia Melbourne University Press Richardson, B. (2008) Mothology: Discover the Magic LeapfrogOz Zborowski, P. and Edwards, E. D. (2007) A Guide to Australian Moths CSIRO Publishing BEES PERT PS Pe RT be eRe be be De be Pe he bd Pe bg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 13 A Summer of Butterflies 2014/2015 (aka the Year of the Tiger) - Peter Hendry While it does not fit with the Chinese calendar, this summer, in S. E. Queensland, could be described as the Year of the Blue Tiger (7irumala hamata hamata). Everyone I know has noticed them this summer. Our own president, Ross, has been on the TV news reporting on them and Robert Ashdown has just posted on the club’s Facebook page, images of numbers of Blue Tigers nectaring on his Ivory Curl Tree (Buckinghamia celcissima). My brother, Quentin, rang last Saturday, 31/01/2015, reporting he could not count fast enough to keep up the number of Blue Tigers flying through his property, just south of Childers. Good rain has produced lots of fresh new erowth for the larvae to feed on and has increased the numbers of butterflies across the range. But why so many Blue Tigers’? Fig.1 Blue Tigers aggregating Photo Pam Thompson Blue Tigers are known to aggregate overwinter with the females dispersing in spring. Evidence of such aggregations was provided to me by Pam Thompson, a friend of my brother, in an image, (Fig. 1), taken on the Bargara/Mon Repos trail on 7th July 2014. While I have no information on the numbers present, based on the image they must have been in their hundreds. Also present in the image is the odd Common Crow (Euploea core). It is the females from such overwintering sites combined with lots of rain-driven fresh new growth on their host plants, mainly Corky Milk Vine (Secamone elliptica), that has provided us with such a spectacle of Blue Tigers over this summer. Blue Tigers are not the only butterfly to benefit from this season’s summer rains. A phone call from club member Richard Zietek, informing me he had seen a Four- barred Swordtail (Protographium leosthenes) 1n his yard at Capalaba, sparked my interest. I live in the adjoining suburb of Sheldon and had only once seen a Four- barred Swordtail here and as I was planning a trip to my bush block, west of Bundaberg, where I had seen Swordtails in numbers once before, things were looking good. The following week a Swordtail made an appearance here at Sheldon and over the summer | have had two other visitors. BEDS PE DT De PE PT Re be Pe be be Oe Ps Pe be bd Pe Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 14 The trip to my bush block proved eventful. Accompanied by my brother, skirting around the northern side of Good Night Scrub, expecting, as on previous occasions, to see a few butterflies mud puddling, we were stopped in our tracks. Hundreds 1f not thousands of Yellow Albatrosses (Appias paulina) were mud puddling along the side of the road (Fig. 2). From there until we reached our block, on the Perry River, : Y -- - — ~ _ al > «+ , | > -_ ~~ ~ — Fig. 2 Yellow Albatrosses (Appias paulina) mud puddling along the side of the road Photo Peter Hendry everywhere there was a puddle there were Yellow Albatrosses. Noticeably 99% of them were males (Fig. 3) with only the occasional female. As for Four-barred Swordtail, on the whole of the trip including the return trip the total numbered was seven, six on the block and one coming home. Yellow Albatrosses were dominate, for every Blue Tiger, a hundred Yellow Albatrosses, for every common Crow a hundred Yellow Albatrosses. They were even mud puddling on the edge of the Perry River at the bottom of our block. Ona walk down to the River we were amazed at the number of larvae, mostly moth larvae, feeding on all the trees. I collected some Opodiphthera astrophela larvae feeding on both Crows Ash (Flindersia Australis) and Red Ash (Alphitonia excelsa), a moth I had not recorded from the block before. ea || Meanwhile back at Sheldon the Blue | ‘. | Tigers while not in large numbers are PEE ae SOM: RUS more numerous than any other year I can Photo Peter Hendry remember. Unfortunately there is no PTET PERE PS Pe Re Pe Pe Re be Pe De be Pe be bd Pe bg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 15 evidence that they have found my Secamone elliptica, which remains uneaten. Yellow Albatrosses are also present and have taken up residence in the back yard where they enjoy hiding amongst the trees. While they have been here in the past I do not see them every year. I have three specimens of their host plant Drypetes deplanchei but for some inexplicable reason none have produced new growth this summer and I have found no evidence of the Yellow Albatross breading. The Common Crow is here as usual but not in any increased numbers. One has just laid an egg on my wife’s new Dwarf Frangipani (Plumeria pudica) - best I not tell her - interesting to see if it goes through. The Plumbago Blue (Leptotes plinius) has increased in numbers, hundreds of them, with their exotic host plant, Plumbago auriculata, now covering about 10m? and the native Plumbago zeylanica running riot along the ground, they have plenty to feed on. Other butterflies I have seen here in increased numbers this summer are the Blue Triangle (Graphium sarpedon) and the Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio aegeus), though mostly males. It 1s hard to say 1f the Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona) 1s in increased numbers but there are plenty here. In lesser numbers have been the Pale Triangle (Graphium eurypylus), though I have seen a yellow morph and the Purple Crow (Euploea tulliolus), of which I only ever have a few but to date only two. oe Se ee Peacock or Green Carpenter (Xylocopa, formerly in genus Lestis) - Erica Siegel Xylocopa bombylans is found along the coast from Sydney to Cape York and X. aeratus 1s found around Sydney, on the Dividing Range up to approximately the Stanthorpe area. The female of these spectacular bees is a glossy metallic blue with purple tints and the male a metallic green with yellow tints. Peacock/Green Carpenter bees are 13 to 20mm long. The face of the female Xylocopa bombylans has green and white hairs. Males of X. bombylans have white markings while males of X. aeratus have yellow face markings. With their mandibles Peacock Carpenter bees cut 7 to 10mm wide nest burrows in the flower stalks of grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) or in the soft pithy dead Female Xylocopa bombylans PEPE PE DT PE DE PS Pa Re be Pe be bd Oe be Pe be bd Pe Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 16 timber of Banksia, Tristania, Acacia, Leptospermum and Casuarina. The Peacock Carpenter bees remove excavated wood from the nest by sticking the end of their abdomen out of the entrance hole and then, with their legs, throwing out the wood particles. They make rounded cells for their eggs. Each cell 1s stocked with pollen and nectar formed into “bee bread” before the female lays a large egg on top. She then closes the cell with a plug of chewed wood particles. According to Dr.Katja Hogendoorn ( University of Adelaide) the emerged young bees are fed in the nest and take quite some time before venturing out of the nest. I have observed them placing their abdomen into the entrance hole to excrete digested meals to the outside so not to soil the nest. The nest burrow may be shared by males and females to help guard the nest. Peacock Carpenter bees are buzz pollinators and “buzz pollinate” by grasping the flower and vigorously vibrating their flight muscles, thus sonicating the flower. This 1s important for flowers where the pollen 1s trapped in narrow tubes. Peacock Carpenter bees are attracted to flowers needing “buzz pollination” such as Hibbertia scandens, Melastoma affine and Solanum jasminoides. They also forage in Pea flowers like native Pultanea sp., Gompholobium sp.,and other natives such as Eriostemon australasius, ( Pink Wax Flower) Leptospermum, Macadamia, native Wisteria, Senna sp., Leucopogon as well as exotic Cuphea among others. Nectar-foraging Peacock Carpenter bees often pierce the corollas of long-tubed flowers, and thereby reach the nectar without contacting the anthers. Such “nectar stealing” has been observed for_X. bombylans feeding on Cuphea sp.. This would lead to a reduction in pollination. When foraging among flowers the Peacock Carpenter bees emit a deep droning sound and are therefore easily located. Land clearing has caused the loss of these stunning bees from Victoria and mainland areas of South Australia although they can still be found on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Photos Erica Siegel References: Dollin A. Australian Native Bee Research Centre www.aussiebee.com.au Dollin, A., Batley, M., Robinson, M. & Faulkner B. Native Bees of the Sydney region, a field guide — Australian Native Bee Research Centre. http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/katja.hogendoorn http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylocopa bombylans http://www.padil.gov.au/pollinators/ http://australianmuseum.net.au/Peacock-Carpenter-Bee BEDS PE DS PF OE bs PE DT pe Pe be Pe be pe he bd Pe hg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 17 | BS iP” Figs.1 and 3 Peacock Carpenter bee (Xylocopa bombylans) female Fig. 2 Peacock Carpenter bee male Fig.4 Ejyecting wood particles oe i New Distribution Records for Nymphalid Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Queensland - Kelvyn L. Dunn Summary This paper documents 53 new locations in inland, outback and central Queensland, Australia, for 17 species of nymphalid butterflies. Each record is from a location that falls outside the boundaries of the species’ distributions, as indicated on the range- filled maps provided by Braby (2000). The report also discusses relevant new locations discovered by others since 2000, namely those that lie close to any listed in 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’ distributions, especially in western Queensland. BEDS PERT PS Pa RT be eR be be De bd Pee bd Pe be Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 18 Introduction Those insect enthusiasts who occasionally visit remote areas of Queensland may pay little attention to the nymphalid butterflies a group comprising a number of subfamilies whose members are usually very conspicuous on the wing. The casual naturalist, familiar with butterflies and when equipped with a suitable field guide, can readily identify most of those seen at close to moderate range, as many of the species have striking differences. Others, so inclined, with a growing field expertise can effortlessly photograph the adults and easily identify them by this means, or may choose to seek assistance to that end from those with more experience. Photography is easiest when adult butterflies pause to feed at flowers or when they roost on low foliage in the evenings or, at other times, during unsuitable weather for sustained flight. Both means of data gathering will provide quality records for the species that occur 1n Queensland, save some from a few complex groups like the Crow butterflies where specimens may be required, particularly in the far north of the state, to eliminate doubt that may arise at times. Regular observations by casual observers have built up a substantial knowledge of the distributions of nymphalid butterflies because their members, like those of the Swallowtails (Papilionidae) and Whites and Yellows (Pieridae) (see Dunn 2013a, & 2014 for complementary pieces on these groups), are conspicuous 1n areas where they occur. Despite their moderate size and visibility, the known distributions for some of the more widespread and common species are still patchy, fragmentary, and likely under-representative beyond the coastal and sub-coastal regions where most butterfly fieldwork is repeatedly done (Dunn 2010). That paucity of knowledge applies especially to 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 1s possible that Yoma sabina (the Lurcher) 1s one of those species that expands inland along river systems (to a limited extent) during the wet season (or farther afield in those more favourable years) where at other times it 1s less likely to be found, or is not present. At such times, it may breed seasonally or opportunistically on plants belonging to the family Acanthaceae to create meta-populations. The surprising record of this species in the Chillagoe area, notably distant from other eastern locations, would support this suggestion, but adults have been seen only at limited times of the year, albeit often commonly. Garry Sankowsky (p.c. 2014) who knows the area informed me that, ““The main host plant there 1s Dipteracanthus australasia and it is quite abundant in most of the vine thickets on the bluffs all around Chillagoe. They also use Brunoniella australis which grows outside of the vine thickets, but Yoma does not venture too far from the vine thickets/rainforest.”’ Methods During several lengthy field trips through inland and northern Queensland (see Dunn 2013b for map of sites visited in 2011 & 2012), I pragmatically recorded Nymphalids (and all other butterflies) 1n order to help alleviate the knowledge imbalances that PTET Pe De be Pe De be Pe Pe pe he bg be Oe be Pe bd pg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 19 exist for the inland of northeastern Australia (Dunn 2009, 2010). I utilised a roadside explorative approach that involved examination of numerous sites along major inland highways and byroads, on route to and from the Gulf Country in 2011-12 and to and from southern Cape York Peninsula, along the coastal route, in 2001-02. I chose sites according to the various types of habitat available and where these habitats showed less human disturbance, 1n order to maximise the number of species seen. The procedure involved slowly walking through each site visited (often involving a 15-30 minute inspection), and in process listing all species encountered that could be positively identified by various means (netting, photography and close visual observations) on all four trips. Most inspections occurred between 0900 and 1730h (AEST) each day for the entirety of each trip, usually irrespective of the weather (if only marginally unsuitable) as adults might still be found by disturbing them from roosting sites, but with an obvious 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 has been the option aimed for over the years, where the record was thought (at the time) to be mundane. Those forty (40) encounters (65.6%) recorded by ‘observation-only’ are marked (Obs.). For 39 (97.5%) of these observations the identifications were certain (Category 1). In each case, I recognised sufficient characters to achieve that level of confidence. Only 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 (see Dunn 2011 for discussion of this category and other categories of record acceptability). That particular record (which involved Junonia orithya) 1s marked ‘C2’ to distinguish it as less reliable as observations go; nonetheless the new distribution it suggests is well supported by neighbouring records (see Table and a relevant reference linked to the species concerned) so there seems little concern by its inclusion. I retained voucher specimens at times (where this was permissible and achievable), and more often than not, these were taken from locations where the species concerned were far beyond their known ranges. For that reason, the percentage of vouchers in the Table (24.6%) is higher than the usual frequency for all records on the trips concerned (because the table is selective data and lists only those records that represent new locations). Sometimes vouchers ought to have been taken to help improve the survey rigour, when in fact they were not; the main reason being was that on many occasions I did not recognise that a particular location was evidence of new distribution at the time of the field encounter. Occasionally too, a compromise was struck, and some adults suspected of being from new or perhaps cusp locations were caught and examined to confirm their identification (to strengthen a record that might be challenged) and then released (Rel.) (4.9%). A very small portion of records was photographed in the field (4.9%) where this was practicable; these serve as supportive evidence that can be examined by others, should this be required (some are BEDS Pe DE be PE De be Pe Pe pe Pe bg Pe Pe bd Pe bd pg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 20 reproduced in this report to substantiate those encounters). At times too, I also retained adults that had posed for video photography (the imagery means utilised), if they lingered unduly (but oftentimes they would quickly depart on my closer approach); these are included among those marked as vouchers, but each includes a superscript-link to the photos (video frames) concerned. Records that standalone as image-only (meaning the specimens were not retained as vouchers) 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. Results and Discussion The table lists 61 records of 17 species from 53 new locations (arranged from north to south), across Queensland; 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 in the last decade or so are cross-linked where their published new locations fall close to those listed. For Melanitis leda the new record from the Gulf Country hinterland provides evidence of what may be a continuous distribution through the coastal region of northern Australia. Similarly, the records of Mycalesis perseus, Charaxes sempronius, Acraea andromacha, Junonia orithya, J. hedonia, Danaus plexippus and D. affinis from the greater Normanton district add to available knowledge and 1n doing so, each helps bridge the gap in the eastern Gulf Country for these common and widespread species. The central Queensland record of Pantoporia consimilis was a surprising southern encounter (in a region that has been well examined previously), and one that seriously challenged my predatory stealth (in absence of the proverbial net) as I homed in to photograph the single adult, which was basking 1n a sunlit vine thicket. The dense tangle of vines which treading upon immediately disturbed higher foliage in the vicinity, alerted it as to my approach each time, and prompted a routine leisurely glide, with intermittent flutter, back and forth in the small glade. It remained site tenacious and often chose to perch at a moderate height, which when I was eventually close to it was just a little too high above my head for a suitable view from below — a stepladder would have been handy! For the other nymphalid species, some of the extensions recorded may be minor but each provides evidence of a broader inland occurrence in the area concerned. Most of these new records link in to an inadequate knowledge of species’ distributions — due to a lack of regular exploration of the inland by insect enthusiasts (collectors and photographers) — 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, particularly the Gulf Country where much effort focussed, and helps fill knowledge gaps evident in their distributions (as based on the range-fill maps in Braby 2000). BEES Pe De be PE De be Pe Pd pe Pe bg be be be Pe bd pd Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 21 Acknowledgements I sincerely thank Garry Sankowsky (Queensland) for detailed biological information on Y. sabina in the Chillagoe area, and for permission to include his observations in this report to supplement my own records. I also thank Dr Russell Best (Victoria University, Vic.) for identifying (based on photos of flowers and foliage) the nectar source of H. metirius at Carnarvon Gorge. References: 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 Monograph Series No. 9. (pp.7-10). The Royal Geographic Society of Queensland Inc. Brisbane. 1v+146pp. Braby, M.F. 2000. Butterflies of Australia: their identification, biology and distribution. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood Vic. Braby, M.F. 2014. Remarks on the spatial distribution of some butterflies and diurnal moths (Lepidoptera) in the Top End of the Northern Territory, Australia. Northern Territory Naturalist 25: 29-49. Daniels, G. & Edwards, E.D. 1998. Butterflies from Lawn Hill National Park and Musselbrook Reserve, Queensland. /n Comben, |., Long, S. & Berg, K. (eds.). Musselbrook Reserve Scientific Study Report (pp.89-91). The Royal Geographic Society of Queensland, Brisbane. 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. 2011. 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. 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. 2014. New distribution records for Sulphur and White butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in inland and outback Australia. Metamorphosis Australia, Magazine of the Butterfly & Other Invertebrates Club 75: 14-25. Dunn, K.L. & Dunn, L.E. 1991. Review of Australian butterflies: Distribution, life history and taxonomy. Parts 1-4. Melbourne, Australia: Published by the authors. BEES Pe De be PE De be Pe be pe Pe be Pe be be be bd pg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 22 Franklin, D.C. 2007. Dry season observations of butterflies in the ‘Gulf country’ of the Northern Territory and far north-west Queensland. Northern Territory Naturalist 19: 9-14. Kendall, R. 2011. A new location for the Dusky Knight, Ypthima arctous (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae). Metamorphosis Australia, Magazine of the Butterfly & Other Invertebrates Club 63: 33. Monteith, G.B. 1971. Insect collecting at Iron Range. News Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Queensland 78: 17-20. Pierce, F. 2008. Range extension records for various butterflies throughout Australia. Victorian Entomologist 38(1): 15-16. Valentine, P.S. & Johnson, S.J. 2000. Butterflies of southwestern Queensland with life history notes. Victorian Entomologist 30(5): 59-62. Valentine, P.S. and Johnson, S.J. 2001. Observations of butterflies at the Carnarvon Range, Queensland. Victorian Entomologist 31(1): 2-3. Key to Table: Note 1. A solitary adult of Melanitis leda, in fairly worn condition and closest in fascies to the dry season form, was flushed from undergrowth in paperbark gallery forest, between 1255-1335h AEST (the duration of survey). Once startled, it flew rapidly but quickly sought shelter amongst leaf litter 1n an area of deeper shade farther afield, whereafter 1t was not seen. Note 2. During three differently timed visits (one in mid-late morning, one in mid- afternoon and another in late afternoon), I walked extensively along the northern riverbank in search of satyrine butterflies. A few aged females of Mycalesis perseus were encountered in vine thickets in mid and late afternoon, and another was seen in the morning the next day, which provided evidence of at least one species hitherto unrecorded from the eastern Gulf Country. However, I did not find evidence of M. terminus at this location, a riparian site where I thought the species might occur if suitable larval food plants are present. Braby (2000) expressed doubt concerning the authenticity of the single male specimen of M. terminus from Normanton in the ANIC, which Dunn and Dunn (1991) had included in the species’ distribution. Braby (2000 p.477) reported that the specimen concerned was “collected by J.C. Le Souef’. I had examined the specimen when it was held in the Le Souef collection at Blairgowrie, and recorded that a certain ‘R. Howard’ (not Le Souef) had collected 1t on 5 August 1958 (and, from memory, that it was labelled in Le Souef’s handwriting). Data-matching (using Dunn & Dunn database) suggests that R. Howard collected at Mount Isa on the two previous days in August, but there 1s no evidence (from surviving specimen labels) of his subsequent journey from the Gulf. If he had then travelled to the eastern coast of Queensland this could explain its origin, assuming the label data is mistaken. The M. terminus record does seem doubtful (there is no other evidence of it from the Gulf area at this time), but there might be PT PS Pe De be PE De be Pe Pe pe Re be Pe be be Pe bd pg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 23 suitable habitat about greater Normanton where the species could exist; hence Braby’s call for confirmation still stands. Note 3. There were a few adult Ypthima arctoa flying 1n a vacant residential block in the main street between 1255 and 1400h AEST, at 20°46°10”S, 145°01°16”"E; some were seen to feed at flowers of Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae) growing near a water tank. I was a little surprised to see this butterfly 1n the township (where it was locally common) as none had been seen in the woodland areas inspected in the Prairie district to the west, nor (later) in the woodland in the Burra Range area to the east. Nonetheless, the species occurs in the nearby White Mountains National Park (Atkins et al. 2003), and within which the Burra Range is included, and it has, on one occasion, been taken farther west at Koon Kool (station), 25km NE of Hughenden (Kendall 2011). Note 4. A male Hypocysta metirius was photographed feeding repeatedly at flowers Note 5. of Lobelia trigonocaulis (Campanulaceae), at 1540h AEST (Figure 2 & 3), alongside feeding adults of H. pseudirius (Figure 4), a species very similar in appearance. Both species were localised and co-occupied the same shady areas 1n riparian grassy woodland where they perched on low foliage, but the flight of H. metirius 1s switter, which drew my attention to it for a closer inspection. H. metirius occurs elsewhere in the Carnarvon Range, “some 95km south of Rolleston, 75km north of Injune” at 25°14.6’°S, 148°37.6°E (Valentine & Johnson 2001) but was hitherto unknown from the Carnarvon Gorge. In the Gulf Country of western Qld, Charaxes sempronius has been recorded at Hedleys Gorge and Hells Gate Roadhouse (Franklin 2007); the new encounter adds to these earlier reports and provides for a_ broader distribution. Note 6. A small male C. sempronius was seen to feed at sandy mud (near the water’s edge) on a large sandbar in the Flinders River at 1325h AEST. I have not seen this species seeking nutrients at mud before (that I can recall), but because of the presence of large crocodile tracks which led directly to the waters’ edge, near where the butterfly was, I did not linger unnecessarily in the area for a timely photograph to capture this interesting behaviour. Instead, I swiftly netted the adult (using a net with a long extendable handle) and subsequently placed the butterfly on wet sand under artificial lighting that evening; he commenced to feed again and so posed for the photograph provided herein (Figure 6), suitably representative of the actual activity observed in the field that day. Note 7. This cusp record of Acraea andromacha 1s certainly not the first from the Lawn Hill area but is additional evidence of the species’ presence at or near BEDS PE DE Pe Pe De be Pe Pe pe he bg be Pe be Pe bd pd Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 24 Note 8. the western boundary of its irregular occurrence (as estimated from the synoptic map presented by Braby (2000)). Daniels and Edwards (1998) listed it from Lawn Hill National Park and Musselbrook Reserve, and more recently, Franklin (2007) encountered it in the “Main Gorge area’ of Lawn Hill N. P. The species may be regular (rather than irregular) 1n the Lawn Hill region. An adult of A. andromacha was seen roosting 1n shade on a small rocky knoll in shrubby woodland, during very hot weather (between 1505 and 1525h AEST), judged as “probably 40°C” according to my field note book; it reached 39°C in Mt Isa that day. Note 9. This encounter adds to the earlier report by Pierce (2008) who recorded the Note 10. species at Fullarton (as “Fullaton’) River, west of Julia Creek (township). This record of A. andromacha 1s not the first from this area but is additional evidence of its presence; Atkins et al. (2003) included the species in a list from the Warang Homestead area and nearby gorges of the White Mountains National Park, marginally to the east. Atkins’ personally surveyed during a scientific expedition in April 2000 (and recorded the species on that particular visit), but that paper included records of this species from other visits (attributed to three other workers), which came from either the gorge area or Burra Range, or both. Note 11. Several adults were seen to feed at a large ‘cedar tree’ in parkland, near an Note 12. entrance to a caravan park, between 1215 and 1230h AEST. It is possible that the ornamental garden tree in the camping area, which served as a nectar source for this and other species, was a native; and if so, it may have been a White Cedar, Melia azedarach (Meliaceae). Queenslanders might generically call such a ‘cedar tree’ (the name provided locally), but I did not take any photos of the flowers to enable a reliable identification by a botanical expert. This encounter adds to the earlier report by Valentine and Johnson (2000) who recorded the species on Baldy Top Lookout, 5km west of Quilpie, a location that provided a considerable westward extension of range (and 1s west of this record from the township of Charleville). Two adults of Neptis praslini were seen on the summit (one was taken). This encounter adds to the earlier report by Monteith (1971) who recorded the species from Coen; Braby (2000) referred to that information informally (by contributor name only). Mount White, which is situated to the southwest of Coen, is a cusp location based on its meridian of longitude; 1t appears to be just on the outer edge of the range-fill area, as estimated from the synoptic map provided by Braby (2000) and is important in defining the western limits (as known at this time) on Cape York Peninsula. BEDS Pe Re be PE he be Pe be pe he be be Pe be Pe bd pg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 25 Note 13. This is a cusp record, marginally outside the distribution figured by Braby (2000), and 1s important in defining the western limits in Dawson region, central Qld. Note 14. This cusp location 1s just outside the range-fill area on the synoptic map provided by Braby (2000) and is arguably new on that reasoning. Curiously, I cannot find a record of Doleschallia bisaltide in my field notes from this location (written on the day concerned), nor do I have a photo or video footage of it, but it is included in the database and was presumably this species. It may have been preserved in ethanol and could be in the VAIC, Bundoora or ANIC, Canberra. As the larva was not reared, and a said, ‘voucher’ is currently unaccounted for (perhaps lost now), I call for visiting enthusiasts to gather further evidence of the species at or near this location and from elsewhere on western Cape York Peninsula to improve knowledge of this species’ northern distribution. Note 15. Three adults were seen in vine thicket on the southern side of the road, more finely, ‘about 4.5km’ (measured by road) from Chillagoe. Details of the underwing markings, which were not recorded in my field notes (and may not have been seen), are unclear; it is likely they resembled those adults from the Wet Tropics region, which are usually dark (unlike some I have seen in the hinterland of Cape York Peninsula, which have a prominent pale band). This report is not the only one I know of from the area; G. Sankowsky has seen the species at a number of sites in the Chillagoe region, for example, and recently provided evidence of an adult in a video of overwintering Crow butterflies circulated among members of the BOIC. I contacted G. Sankowsky and he kindly supplied information on the species regularity in the area: “The Lurcher is quite common at Chillagoe in the wet season ... (particularly) 1n the vine thickets on the limestone bluffs. In February they can usually be seen at any bluff where the host plant grows.” He reported the species occurs as far west as 3km SE of Mungana at 17°08.5’ 144°25.5’ (which extends the distribution farther west than does my record). Note 16. Pierce (2008) earlier recorded Junonia orithya from Karumba. My records, which include encounters at Walker Creek and near the Wondoola airstrip (as per the table) collectively support that previously published location and another from the Flinders River crossing, south of Normanton, reported in the same paper. Note 17. This western record of J. orithya, albeit well outside the distribution indicated on the synoptic map presented by Braby (2000), is not the first from the Lawn Hill area but is additional evidence of the species presence in the eastern Gulf Country. Daniels and Edwards (1998) listed it from Lawn Hill National Park and Musselbrook Reserve, and subsequently, Franklin (2007) finely recorded it from the ‘Main Gorge area’ (Lawn Hill N. P.). BEES Pe DE Pe PE De be Pe Ps pe Re be be Oe be Pe bd pg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 26 Elsewhere in western Qld, Franklin (2007) listed it from the Nicholson River, and more remotely to the south, along a tributary of the Thorntonia River. Note 18. Pierce (2008) recorded J/. orithya from the Burke & Wills Roadhouse; the new records from this general area (Table 1) are supportive of his earlier report and considerably expand upon it. Note 19. One adult of Danaus affinis fed in company with a female of Ogyris amaryllis (Lycaenidae) at a red flowering bottlebrush (Callistemon sp. perhaps viminalis) in parkland/residential area, at 1150h (AEST). Note 20. A single adult was seen at the ‘40km roadside marker’ (which, based on the GPS reading to seconds, obtained at the site with a hand-held device measured 39.6km by road on Google Earth (Google Inc.)). Since my encounter in October 2012, which was the first for the Gulf Country of northwestern Qld, Braby (2014, p.38) has recorded the species from six more sites in the region, during May 2013, and remarked that, “at Karumba, QLD, many adults were seen’. Current evidence suggests the species is vagrant to the Gulf Country. Note 21. Although Euploea corinna is a widespread species in the inland in western Qld, this cusp record, which is marginally outside the distribution figured by Braby (2000), importantly helps define the western limits at this latitude in the Thomson region. Note 22. This is a cusp record, marginally outside the distribution figured by Braby (2000), and 1s important in defining the western limits in the Warrego region. Table - 53 new locations for species of Nymphalidae from beyond their known ranges in Australia Species/Location State Geocode Date Format Melanitis leda Gregory River crossing, Qld 18°39’S, 139°15’E = 10 Oct 2012 Obs “fe! at Gregory Downs Mycalesis perseus Walker Creek crossing, Qld 17°28’S, 141°11V7E 3=—- 13 Oct 2012 Voucher \°? 28km NNE of Normanton 14 Oct 2012 Obs Ypthima arctoa Torren Creek (township) Qld 20°46’S, 145°017E =. 28 Oct 2012 beens’ ote 3, Fig Belyando Crossing Qld 21°32’S, 146°S517E =06Nov2011 Voucher Hypocysta metirius Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon Qld 25°03’S, 148°13"E 11 Nov 2011 — Photo NP at 25°03’03’’ 148°13’00”’ Note 4, Fig 2&3 BEDS PE DS PF OE be PE DS De Pe be Pe be pe Pe bd Pe b Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 27 Hypocysta pseudirius Tambo, in hotel rear garden Augathella, at Warrego River ford at 25°47°43” 146°34’48” Tregole NP, in car park Charaxes semprontius Lawn Hill NP, Constance range at summit lookout Flinders River, at 60km SSW of Normanton Wyandra (in hotel rear garden off Warrego Street) Ikm S of Cunnamulla (at van park) A, andromacha Normanton, at drain near Travers Street Walker Creek crossing, 28km NNE of Normanton Lawn Hill Creek, Adels Grove Lawn Hill NP, Constance range at summit lookout 8km NW by N of Quamby Hotel, on hill top 15 km W of Julia Creek Cloncurry Apex Lookout, 2km W of Cloncurry Cloncurry River anabranch, at [km W of Cloncurry Bottle Tree Lookout, 58km NE of Hughenden Wyandra (in hotel rear garden off Warrego Street) Augathella, at highway junct. 1.6km NE by E of Charleville Pantoporia consimilis Hann River roadhouse, at bridge Olsens Cave, 3km ENE of The Caves Neptis praslini Mount White, near Coen Phaedyma shepherd Palm Tree Creek, at 19km N of Taroom Comet, Leichhardt Tree Park Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld 24°53’S, 146°15’E 25°48’S, 146°35’E 26°30°S, 147°08’E 18°42°S, 138°30°E 18°10°S, 140°5 VE 27°15’S, 145°59°E 28°05’S, 145°41VE LT°41?S, 141°04°E 17°28°S, 141°1 VE 18°41°S, 138°32’°E 18°42°S, 138°30°E 20°19°S, 140°1S°E 20°40’S, 141°36’E 20°42’S, 140°29°E 20°42’S, 140°30°E 20°28°S, 144°24°E 27°15’S, 145°59°E 25°48’S, 146°36’E 26°24’S, 146°15°E 15°12°S, 143°52’°E 23°10°S, 150°29°E 13°58’S, 143°117E 25°30’S, 149°47°E 23°33’S, 148°32’E 26 Oct 2011 Ol Oct 2012 30 Sep 2012 25 Oct 2012 12 Oct 2012 27 Sep 2012 27 Sep 2012 14 Oct 2012 14 Oct 2012 23 Oct 2012 24 Oct 2012 25 Oct 2012 16 Oct 2012 22 Oct 2012 08 Oct 2012 08 Oct 2012 22 Oct 2012 28 Oct 2011 27 Sep 2012 O01 Oct 2012 30 Sep 2012 11 Jan 2001 O05 Nov 2012 06 Jan 2002 14 Nov 2011 08 Nov 2011 es Voucher “8° Voucher Obs Ob S Note 5 Voucher Note 6, Fig 6 Obs Obs Rel Obs Obs Obs Ob S Note 7 Obs Obs Note 8 Obs Note 9 Obs Obs 1 Voucher 4° 1° Obs Obs Voucher *°t* !! Obs Obs 12 Voucher \°* Obs 1 Voucher *°* !° PEPE PE DS PF DE Pe PE DS De RE be Pe be pe Pe bd Pe bd Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 28 Doleschallia bisaltide Myall Creek crossing (Pax Piel Bridge) 55km ESE of Weipa Yoma sabina Little Laura River crossing, 12km WNW of Laura Skm SE of Chillagoe Junonia orithya Brannigan Creek, at 31km E of Karumba Walker Creek crossing, 28km NNE of Normanton Flinders River, 21km W of Wondoola airstrip Lawn Hill Creek, Adels Grove Lawn Hill NP at 18°42’05” 138°29’°24” Lawn Hill NP at 18°41759" 138°29’39” Indarri Falls Lawn Hill NP Lawn Hill NP at 18°43’04” 138° 2859” 5S5km NW by W of Burke & Wills Roadhouse 38km WNW of Burke & Wills Roadhouse Burke & Wills Roadhouse Dismal Creek crossing, 4km ESE of Burke & Wills RH Junonia hedonia Walker Creek crossing, 28km NNE of Normanton Danaus affinis Ikm NE by N of Karumba Point boat ramp Walker Creek crossing, 28km NNE of Normanton Normanton, in Simpson St 6km ENE of Burketown, at creek D. plexippus 40km NNE of Burke & Wills Roadhouse Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld 12°39°S, 142°10°E 15°32°S, 144°21°E 17°11°S, 144°33’E 17°27°S, 141°07’E 17°28’S, 141°1 VE 18°34°S, 140°43°E 18°41°S, 138°32’°E 18°42°S, 138°29"E 18°42°S, 138°30°E 18°43°S, 138°29°E 18°43°S, 138°29°E 18°56°S, 139°58’°E 19°03’°S, 140°02’E 19°14°S, 140°21°E 19°1S°S, 140°22°E 17°28°S, 14°11 VE 17°27°S, 140°50°E 17°28°S, 141°1 VE 17°40°S, 141°05’E L7T°44°S, 139°35°E 18°53°S, 140°28’°E 07 Jan 2002 11 Jan 2001 O9 Jan 2002 12 Jan 2002 13 Oct2012 12 Oct 2012 13 Oct 2012 14 Oct 2012 12 Oct 2012 24 Oct 2012 25 Oct 2012 25 Oct 2012 24 Oct 2012 24 Oct 2012 10 Oct 2012 23 Oct 2012 15 Oct 2012 Ol Nov 2011 12 Oct 2012 13 Oct 2012 14 Oct 2012 13 Oct 2012 13 Oct 2012 14 Oct 2012 11 Oct 2012 12 Oct 2012 Voucher *°* !4 (as juvenile) Voucher Obs Ob S Note 15 Obs-c2 Note 16 Obs Voucher Obs Obs Fig 7 Obs Photo Note 17 Photo 2° Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Note 18, Fig 9 Rel ™ Voucher “2 1° Obs Rel Obs Note 19 Obs Obs Voucher 3 Ob . Note 20 BEDS PE DS PF OE be PE DS De Pe be Pe be pe Pe bd be bg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 29 Euploea corinna 16km W by S of Blackall Qld 24°27°S, 145°20°E 03 Oct2012. Obs Ne?! (along road to Isisford) Tambo, in hotel rear garden Qld 24°53’S, 146°IS-E =—- 26 Oct 2011 Obs “ete? Augathella, at Warrego River Qld 25°48’S, 146°3SV°E = 01 Oct 2012 = Obs ford at 25°47°43” 146°34’48” Photos Kelvyn Dunn Fig.1. Y. arctoa male (ventral view) perched at Belyando Crossing; specimen deposited in ANIC, Canberra. Fig.2. H. metirius male (dorsal view) feeding at Lobelia trigonocaulis (Campanulaceae) at Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park. Fig.3. H. metirius male (ventral view) feeding at L. trigonocaulis at Carnarvon Gorge. Fig.4. H. pseudirius aged male (ventral view) feeding at L. trigonocaulis at Carnarvon Gorge BEDS PERE PS Pe RT be Pe DT be be De be Pe bd Pe Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 30 - é Rig. 9 -% . ™ - + b . a « * : Fig.5. H. pseudirius fresh conditioned male (ventral view) perched at Tambo, in hotel rear garden. Fig.6. C. sempronius at Flinders River crossing, 60km SW of Normanton, feeding at mud (video recorded in captivity; specimen deposited in ANIC, Canberra). Fig.7. J. orithya male (dorsal view) basking at Walker Creek, 28km NNE of Normanton. Fig.8. J. orithya battle scarred male with severed forewing (ventral view) perched at Lawn Hill National Park. Fig.9. J. orithya aged female (dorsal view) perched at Dismal Creek crossing, 4km ESE of Burke & Wills Roadhouse. Fig.10. J. hedonia male (ventral view) roosting at Walker Creek, 28km NNE of Normanton; specimen deposited in ANIC, Canberra. TAA ASA A CASATACALASATASASAL ASA CATA Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 31 OMISSION New Distribution Records for Sulphur and White Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in inland and outback Australia — Kelvyn L. Dunn, December 2014 issue of Metamorphosis Australia, #75. The column “Format” in the Table was inadvertently omitted from the article when transferring it to the magazine which meant that the numbered biological notes could not be cross-referenced to the particular records they concerned. The replacement Table is reproduced below. Table - Forty-nine new locations for species of Pieridae from beyond their known ranges in Australia Species/Location State Geocode Date Format Catopsilia pyranthe Bladensburg historic homestead, Old 22°30’S, 143°02’E 06 Oct 2012 Obs at woolshed 1.6km NE by E of Charleville Qld 26°24’S, 146°1IS’°E =. 28 Sep 2012 Obs 30 Sep 2012 voucher \°t*! Bogan River bridge, at 1.3km NSW ss 331°33’S, 147°1VE — 16 Dec 2013 Obs NW by W of Nyngan 95km N by W of Condobolin NSW = 32°19’S, 146°S8’E —- 16 Dec 2013 Obs-C2 C. pomona Muttaburra Qld 22°36’S, 144°33°E =—- 04 Oct 2012 Obs Aramac, N of Barcaldine Qld 22°58’S, 145°IVE = 04 Oct 2012 Obs lkm S of Barcaldine Qld 23°34’°8, 145°17E 04 Oct 2012 Obs Isisford Qld 24°16’S, 144°26’°E =: 03: Oct 2002 Obs Blackall Qld 24°26’S, 145°28’E =: 02: Oct 2012 Rel 16km W by S of Blackall Qld 24°27°S, 145°20’E 03 Oct2012 Obs"? (along road to Isisford) 24km NW by rd of Tambo Qld 24°45’S, 146°00’E —s_. 26 Oct 2011 voucher Tambo Qld 24°53’S, 146°IS’°E =: 02: Oct 2012 Obs 18km N of Augathella Qld 25°39°S, 146°36°E = 01 Oct 2012 Rel 41km NNE of Charleville Qld 26°06’S, 146°25’E = 01 Oct 2012 Obs 1.6km NE by E of Charleville Qld 26°24’S, 146°1IS°E =30 Sep 2012 Obs l1km S by W of Charleville Qld 26°29’S, 146°13’°E —-. 25 Oct 2011 Obs 12km S by W of Charleville Qld 26°30’S, 146°12’E =. 25 Oct 2011 Obs 25km S by W of Charleville Qld 26°37°S, 146°10E 25 Oct 2011 Obs (at 4km N of Angellala Creek) Eurema laeta Walker Creek, at 28km by Qld 17°28’S, 141°1VE 12 Oct 2012 voucher road NNE of Normanton 13 Oct 2012 voucher 14 Oct 2012 Rel Normanton, at drain near Qld 17°41’°S, 141°04’7E—s- 12 Oct 2012 voucher ‘8! Travers Street 14 Oct 2012 Rel BEDS PE DS PF DE be PE DS De RE be Pe be pe Pe bd Pe bg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 32 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) 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 El. walkeri Chillagoe Skm SE of Chillagoe Cepora perimale ll1km N by E of Roma 10km SE by S of Hebel Deltas argenthona Walker Creek, at 28km NNE of Normanton lkm S of Barcaldine Barcoo River bridge, Isisford 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 Warrego Street) lkm S of Cunnamulla (at van park) Darling River at Bourke, near Short St (close to Rotary Park) Qld Qld WA WA Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld NSW Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld Qld NSW 22°34’S, 142°57°E 22°34’S, 142°58°E 32°05’S, 122°OVE 33°19'S, 121°42°E 26°24°S, 146°1S’E 20°28’S, 144°24°E 20°29°S, 143°11’E 24°45’S, 146°06’E 25°O1’S, 146°26°E 28°58’S, 147°48°E 17°09S, 144°31’E 17°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°16°S, 144°27°E 24°35’S, 145°49°E 24°45’S, 146°06’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°0S’S, 145°41°E 30°0S’S, 145°57°E 06 Oct 2012 06 Oct 2012 10 Oct 2008 15 Oct 2008 30 Sep 2012 28 Oct 2011 O05 Oct 2012 26 Oct 2011 O02 Oct 2012 17 Nov 2011 12 Jan 2002 12 Jan 2002 14 Nov 2011 17 Nov 2011 14 Oct 2012 04 Oct 2012 03 Oct 2012 02 Oct 2012 02 Oct 2012 01 Oct 2012 30 Sep 2012 30 Sep 2012 27 Sep 2012 27 Sep 2012 26 Sep 2012 Obs Photo Note 3, Fig 2 Voucher Obs voucher *°** 4 Voucher ‘°*> Voucher ‘°° Fig 3 Fig 4 Voucher Voucher voucher Note 7, Fig 5 Voucher Photo "2° Fig 7 Note 8 voucher voucher Obs Obs Obs Voucher Note 9, Fig. 9 Obs Obs Voucher Obs Photo Fig! Fig.10 Rel voucher ‘° 1° BEDS REDS PF OE Pe PE DS Pe Pe be Pe be pe Pe bd be bg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 33 D. aganippe 39km E of Isisford Qld 24°16’S, 144°48°E 03 Oct 2002. Obs “°**"! 16km W by S of Blackall Qld 24°27’S, 145°20’E —- 03 Oct 2012 Rel 24km NW by rd of Tambo, at Qld 24°45’S, 146°06’E 02 Oct2012 ~~ voucher \°*”” picnic area Beacon Hill Lookout, 1.6km Eof WA 32°12’S, 121°49E = 10 Oct 2008 Obs Norseman 13 Oct 2008 Obs OK FS FS FS 6 OK OK 2S 2S OK Brown Stag Beetle (RKhyssonotus nebulosus) in Brisbane — Hongming Kan One day 1n late 2008 in Yugarapul park, I accidently stepped on a rotten tree trunk lying in the bush and snapped it while chasing a beautiful butterfly near the Bulimba creek. I found a pair of Brown Stag beetles inside the broken tree trunk. That was the first time I had a close encounter with the amazing beetles and learnt the existence of such creature. However, after that day and until a few days ago (15 Dec, 2014), I never had another chance to see them again despite the fact they are common in Queensland. I am a big fan of beetles and the desire to get my hands on the brown stag beetles again gnawed at me. With a few weeks’ holidays to spend on my hobbies at the end of the year, my hands were becoming itchy and I felt 1t was the right time to try my luck again. Before I started, I did some goolging on the Brown Stag Beetle. From the information gleaned, I learnt they actually live their entire lives inside rotten tree trunks and it felt like a plausible explanation why I hadn’t seen them again in so many years. It never occurred to me before that a rotten log was the obvious place to search for the beetles although it was the place where I found them initially. Armed with the knowledge of the beetle’s habits, I knew where to look for them this time. The place where I decided to carry out my exploration was the same place where I first saw the beetles. There are a lot of trees growing along the Bulimba creek with thick canopies, creating a very humid and shady environment underneath. Inside that environment the fallen trees are abundant, many of them rotten. I set my sights on a medium size fallen tree that seemed to be thoroughly rotten because a gentle kick caused a large chunk of it to break off. BEDS PE DT PE DE PS Pa Re be Pe be bd Oe be pe bd bd Pe Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 34 7 ~ >) LAN ae x * i@ ee et st a? A. NE AN : It all looked very promising to me. My first dig using a screwdriver near the root of the tree broke it into two halves and immediately something black inside caught my eyes. I was elated and carefully picked them up and placed them in my hands. There was no doubt they were stag beetles because of the hallmark of the stag beetle, the mandibles, were on top of their heads but they were not exactly the brown stag beetles I was looking for because their colours were not right. They were totally black. Initially I thought I had found a different type of stag beetle! But then something interesting happened. While they were in my hands, the colours on their backs were gradually changing! At the very beginning, they were indeed black, but within a few seconds, their colours changed to brown, revealing the patterns of the Brown Stag beetle that I was searching for! In hindsight, I think when they are wet, their brown sheaths become black and only when they are dry do the brown colour and the beautiful marks show up. At home, I did more searches on the colour change of the beetle. I haven’t found any information on the English sites but one Chinese site describes the same colour change I have witnessed (http://komurohu.pixnet.net/blog/post/38623672- BEDS PERE PS Pe Pe be PE Re be Pe De be Pe he bd Pe bg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 35 HEOMICVMAAMET%MIF MAS MES %M8D%ITHEO%IO%MBI%MES MA4%AT%EIMIIN BEMETHIA84%ES MBO%M8BF%MEO%83%A1L%MEI%MAD%94---rhyssonotus- nebulosus-%E6%BE%B3 In total, I found 6 brown stag beetles from two rotten tree trunks on that day (15 Dec, 2014). I also found a decomposed body of a Golden Stag beetle inside one of the tree trunks. It looks like the Brown Stag beetle 1s indeed very common in Queensland but because of their habit of living inside tree trucks, they are rarely spotted. Exactly one year ago at the same location, I found a dead body of the Golden Stag beetle as shown in the adjacent picture. I have never been able to find a live one. I would like to know the information on how to capture a live golden stag beetle 1f any of the club members can offer some valuable insights. Photos Hongming Kan TS TK SIS OK OS OK 2 OK ok A Problem with Identifying Moths - Peter Hendry Peter Kuttner, from Mt Tamborine, sent me the attached moth images hoping I could identify them. I concluded, despite the differences, Figs 1 and 2 were the same moth. I also came to the conclusion that all 3 images were of moths in either the family Geometridae or Noctuidae. I searched high and low without any success. With both moths being rather distinctive, I expanded my search into other families despite believing they belonged to the aforementioned. I called upon a couple of club members regarding Figs | and 2. They also had no idea. With no success BEES a OE DT be PED be be Pe bd be Re bd pe Pe bd bd Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 36 forthcoming, I called upon the expertise of Ted Edwards from the Australian National Insect Collection in Canberra. The answers were quite surprising: “Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are a species of Idiodes in the (tribe) Lithinini, (subfamily) Ennominae, (family) Geometridae. A. J. Turner was aware of this species and had a manuscript name for it but died before the name was published. It is reasonably common in the S. Qld and N. NSW rainforests. Fig. 3 1s more of a problem. I could not match it with anything in the ANIC and it may be a new species but I could not be sure. It 1s closest to Planolocha obliquata, another Lithinini.” So if you are having problems — identifying a moth, in spite of how distinctive it might be, the reason may be it is just unnamed. A.J. Turner (1861-1947) was a Paediatrician and Entomologist and is responsible for naming more than 3,500 species of Australian _ Lepidoptera, more than any other author. Many thanks to Peter Kuttner for his inquiry and special thanks to Ted Edwards for his rapid response to my query. Photos Peter Kuttner ok ok 2k ok ok ok ok ok ok ok Unusual butterfly life history aberrations — Wesley Jenkinson Having a passion for observing life histories of Australia’s butterflies since an early age, including moths as well in the last few years, it seems there is always something new to discover. Whether it is a new larval host plant for one of our butterflies (which one would think most would have already been discovered ) or countless unknown moth larval hosts/host plants (most of which are still largely unknown) there will always be a few oddities. Below are four previously unpublished examples from the past few years. BEES Pe DE PT be PED be Pe Pe bd be Re be pe Pe bd bd Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 37 1/ During a trip to northern New South Wales with John Moss during February 2012, at a roadside stop near the Gyra-Ebor / Rockvale Road intersection, a male melanistic form of the Spotted Brown (Heteronympha paradelpha) was captured. The adults of both sexes were very common at this location. Male melanistic form Male normal form 2/In March 2013 while about to enjoy chewing on a nice fresh sweet corn cob straight from the vegetable garden, I noticed a tunnelling larva. Thinking it was a larva of the commercial pest Corn Earworm (Helicoverpa armigera) moth, it was about to be squashed. On a closer inspection it was an unexpected larva of the attractive Bright Cornelian butterfly (Deudorix diovis). The larva and corn were kept 1n a container for observation. After four days the larva started to pupate and formed a perfect pupa. However the adult failed to emerge. I have a Tulipwood tree (Harpullia pendula), known hostplant for this butterfly, which is growing about 4-5 metres from where the corn was erowing. Most likely the larva was dislodged from an Harpullia seed capsule and crawled over onto the corn and continued feeding within the cob in an effort to Survive. Images - View showing part of tunnel and dorsal rear view of larva hard anal plate and ejected ‘yellow’ frass in container BEDS PERT PS Pe Re Pe Pe Re be Pe De be Pe be bd Pe be Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 38 3/ During late 2012, a lycaenid specimen was given to me for setting by our club president Ross Kendall. Ross reported that the larva had been located and raised to an adult on a cultivated citrus tree. The specimen was identified as a very small female Cycad Blue (Theclinesthes onycha), and no doubt growth retarded by an unsuitable host plant. On several occasions I have observed females of this species ovipositing on the buds of Rose plants (Rosa spp.) and once on Rattle Pod plants (Crotalaria spp.), in which the resultant larvae didn’t accept either plants and died. Images- (Photographed together) Female Theclinesthes onycha with wingspans 17mm and 28mm 4/In April 2013 several first and second instar larvae of the Tailed Emperor (Polyura sempronius) were located feeding on the same Crotalaria growing in my garden. The larvae were ‘sleeved’ on the plants with netting bags. They all failed to survive on these plants although they successfully utilise many other legumes in at least four plant families; eg Moss (2010) lists 40 species for this region. Over the years there have been a number of other abnormalities of individual butterfly specimens that others 1n our group have identified or collected. These include a gynandromorph Orchard Swallowtail, yellow painted Glasswing, albino Lemon Migrant, hybrid Yellow/Orange Migrants and a melanistic Large Grass-Yellow with all yellow markings replaced by light brown! Occasionally ovipositing females seem to ‘get it wrong’ when it comes to egg laying on their host plants. This is one aspect that can make field observations very interesting, as one does not know just where and when the next discovery will be! Photos Wesley Jenkinson Reference: Moss, J. T., 2010. Butterfly Host Plants of South-east Queensland and northern New South 3" ed. BOIC. BEDS PE DS PE DE PS Pa Re be Pe De be Oe be Pe be bd Pd Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 39 LETTER Via email from Garry Sankowsky, North Queensland — 1.2.2015 Hi Daphne, The dry 1s certainly over here with storms every other day and the butterflies are really on the go. We had a migration of Lemon Migrants here at the same time as south Qld so there may have been a massive overwintering colony somewhere. They were all form crocale (Catopsilia pomona crocale) so they did not hatch after the Dec/Jan rains or they would have been C. pomona. Even though the Brigalow Scrub in central Qld has been completely exterminated large numbers of Cassia brewsteri have survived due to their persistent suckering ability and they can still produce huge numbers of migrants. Nothing like in the 60's but still big numbers. Cheers Garry ARTICLES FROM PAST ISSUES From Issue #47 December 2007 The Caper White Migration — Peter Hendry The Caper White butterfly (Belenois java) has made another impressive migration this year. The migration has been noted in our newsletter in past reports including No.12, March 1999, p.15 wherein John Moss reported on “Fellow- travellers in a Caper White Migration” in October 1998. In No.31, December 2003, p.32, David St Henry in his report (from North Rockhampton) on the Lakes Creek State School butterfly habitat regeneration project, recorded seeing a migration in 2003 and in No.43, December 2006, p.22, Mary Hackett from her herb farm at Middle Dural NSW wrote on the 2005 migration : “Their mass migration overwhelmed me in the garden as I stood with arms extended, exchanging salutations as they dipped and brushed my hair and fingertips in passing.” So let’s take a closer look at the butterfly and its migration. The Caper White is a medium sized butterfly with a wingspan of 55mm. There are two subspecies of Caper White in Australia, Belenois java teutonia and Belenois java peristhene. On the mainland B. 7. peristhene has only been recorded on the east coast at Percy Isles northeast of Shoalwater Bay QLD and near Sydney NSW. B. j. teutonia occurs in two colour forms, pale and dark, the dark form being most notable 1n the females. While the pale form of the female 1s similar to the male, the dark form has a much broader black suffusion around the edge of the wings. The larvae feed on species in the plant family Capparaceae, mostly in the genus Capparis, A mating pair BEDS Pe RE Pe PE he be Pe Pe pe he be be be be Pe bd pg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 40 but also use the Warrior Bush (Apophyllum anomalum) which 1s widespread 1n semi- arid areas of NSW and southwest QLD. The pale yellow eggs, which later turn orange, are 1.4mm high x .8mm and are laid in clusters. One female was reported laying 114 eggs in 30 minutes! The larvae reach 32mm in length and are olive green to chocolate brown in colour, with numerous raised yellow spots. The pupa is up to 25mm long, usually mottled white with black patches, but sometimes pinkish white or almost wholly white or wholly black. No one really understands the reason for the migration. One theory is that the larvae build up in such large numbers that they devoid the area of available host plant and the adults migrate to find more. However in many cases they fly into areas where no host plants exist or fly straight out to sea, to a certain death. It is reported that the migration takes place every year and in some years goes unnoticed due to the lack of numbers. I cannot imagine the host plants being completely stripped in those years, unless due to lack of intervening good rain, they have not recovered from previous years. The direction of the migration varies not only depending on where it 1s observed, but even varies during the migration. *Braby, quotes several sources which give the following directions: In southeast QLD, southeasterly migrations; inland southern NSW, southerly; ACT, northeasterly; Sydney, both northerly and southerly; central VIC, westerly; northwest VIC, southeasterly. *“R.Grund, 1n a web article on South Australian butterflies, stated “the migrations proceeded southerly to the lower southeast region of South Australia and to southwest Victoria, then turned west to the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and Yorke Peninsula, and then made a northerly turn before disappearing back north, presumably from where they started”. So there remains much to learn. As the migrations 1n Queensland take place during October and November, and as | take holidays during that period, I am privy to some marvelous sights during large migrations. It is hard to contemplate the number of individuals involved. In 2005 I drove from Sheldon (near Brisbane) to my bush block west of Bundaberg and saw Caper Whites the full length of the journey. They were so thick just south and north of Maryborough I could not drive without hitting them. That year I stood in my mother’s garden at Manly (Brisbane) and counted 16 crossing a 20metre line in one minute. This year, on the 27" of October, I was on a 1000 acre block near Deepwater, south of Tenterfield, 1n NSW and saw hundreds taking nectar from two species of Tea Tree (Leptospermum) which were in full flower, but it was a small patch of Callistemon pungens that really attracted their attention. Whether it was the flower colour (mauve - as opposed to the white leptospermums) or the fact that the bottlebrush had recently opened (with a possible higher nectar content) it was the preferred species. Adult feeding on Callistemon pungens PEPE PE DE be PE De be Pe Pe pe he bg be Pe be Pe bd pg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 41 I later returned to the bush block west of Bundaburg (during overcast and showery conditions) where I found larvae and eggs on a caper species (Capparis canescens) 1n the open forest area. Down by the river in the vine scrub where Capparis arborea and C’. sarmentosa grow, John Moss and I observed a mating frenzy. All of the Caper Whites were pairing up, except one particular female, which when males approached raised her abdomen, as if willing to accept a mate, but none obliged! We observed this behavior for some time, and no mating occurred. In researching for this article I read that the females do this to let the males know they are already fertile; my observations seem to bear this out. The butterflies here showed no obvious signs of migrating, but this may have been due to the overcast conditions. The most observed species flying were Caper Whites and Large Grass-yellows. Many of the pupae found were attached to other nearby plants and some appeared to be parasitised, but after reading that the pupae can be coloured black I am not so sure. When migrating the female will stop and lay on any host plants they find, dispensing large numbers of eggs at a time. During one migration the late Dr G. A. Waterhouse estimated a total of 250,000 eggs were laid on a large tree caper in his garden. Eggs have been reported to be laid on some non host plants, including cultivated orange, Zieria sp. and Correa baeuerlenii (Rutaceae), as well as Banksia ornata and B. serrata (Proteaceae). As expected the resulting larvae do not survive and in many cases the eggs are infertile. During these times many home gardeners with cultivated Capparis species will experience defoliation of their plants. In my Sheldon garden, my Capparis arborea 1s planted in heavy shade and generally seems to be left alone for this reason. However this year, for the first time, I found 101 eggs on one leaf, possibly from one female. Eggs on Capparis canescens Apart from all the media reports, some of our members have reported the following. Richard Zietek said all of his Capparis species have been stripped clean this year. Daphne Bowden tells the story that while attending the local Spring Parade on the waterfront at Manly, when the pipe band struck up to start the parade, as 1f on cue, a large cloud of resting Caper Whites rose from the wall (or maybe the sand) of the Esplanade to continue on their merry way. Lois Hughes said she was dragged kicking and ™ screaming by husband John up the slopes of Mt - Cotton to two isolated C. arborea trees completely covered in butterflies and still containing many larvae and pupae. (I may have embellished “the kicking and screaming” bit, but she was in a long dress and dress shoes!) BEDS PERE Pe Pe De Pe Pe Re be Pe De bd Pe be bd Pe bg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 42 Pupa on anon host plant Acalypha sp. While we may not fully understand the Caper White migrations, they are great ambassadors for the insect world as they do stir up the media and have the general public talking on a subject many would not normally bother with. Photos by Peter Hendry References: * Michael F Braby, 2000 : Butterflies of Australia : their Identification, Biology and Distribution. CSIRO ** South Australian Butterflies Data Sheet R. Grund http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~erg/java_ ds.htm OTHER GROUPS’ ACTIVITIES Redlands Good Gardening Expo - Saturday 11 April 2015 9am to 3pm Held at: Redlands IndigiScapes Centre, 17 Runnymede Rd, Capalaba Free Entry! Find out about growing your own organic food at home. Tastier, healthier, the way it was meant to be eaten. Learn about native gardening and how you can use natives to create habitats. Composting, worm farming, mulching and how to recycle your green waste. Buy plants and seeds and get some great new ideas for your garden. Get the help you need with advice from the experts. Workshops & demonstrations, arts & crafts, music & food! Indigi Day Out Saturday 6" June 10am to 4pm. Discover the wonders of IndigiScapes at this fun-filled event! There will be wildlife displays, mini workshops, music, arts and craft, kids activities, and food to enjoy. BUTTERFLY AND OTHER INVERTEBRATES CLUB PROGRAMME AGM - 18" April, 2015, at Redlands Indigiscapes Centre, Capalaba — See enclosed flyer. The meeting will be followed by a guided walk through the gardens and bush area of IndigiScapes. Planning and General Meeting What: Our planning meetings are informative and interesting. As well as planning our activities we share lots of information. All members are welcome as this activity is also a general meeting of members. A walk around the lake will follow the meeting. When: Saturday May 9", 2015 from 10 am Where: Marie-Louise Johnson’s place at Forest Lake - address provided on RSVP Who: All members are welcome. RSVP: Marie-Louise on 0422 970 184 or email nabid@aapt.net.au Indigi Day Out Saturday 6" June, 2015 - 10am to 4pm. See details in Other Groups’ Activities — We will have a display at this event. BEDS PE DS PF DE be PE DS De Pe be Pe be pe Pe bd Pe bg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 43 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 is 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, Dr Anne Dollin and Martyn Robinson for scientific referencing and proof reading of various articles in this issue of the magazine oan e Printing of this publication is proudly supported by TT Brisbane City Council sete EELS, We would like to thank all these people for their contribution. Pjedicated to a hetter Brishane 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 Next event - AGM — 18" April, 2015, at Redlands Indigiscapes Centre, Capalaba BEDS PE DS PF OE PS PE DS De Re be Pe be a Pe bd Pe hg Magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club #76 — Page 44