Lexi Webster
Australia is home to over 400 species of butterflies, with the majority being continental species and more than a dozen endemic species from remote islands. The largest butterflies in the world are endemic to the Australasian realm, with the birdwing being the biggest. Butterflies in Australia migrate in large masses, with migrations taking place in Sydney, Brisbane, and occasionally Tasmania. One notable migration is that of the Caper White Butterfly, which occurs every 10 or so years, where they migrate from the west of Queensland to the east.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of butterfly species in Australia | Over 400 |
| Migration patterns | Caper White Butterflies migrate from west to east Queensland every 10 years or so |
| Migration distance | 1300 km if migrating from inland NSW, 3000 km if from Queensland |
| Direction of migration | Usually south, but can disperse in any direction |
| Areas reached during migration | Sydney, Brisbane, Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, southern Yorke Peninsula, southern Eyre Peninsula, Adelaide, Murray Bridge, Fleurieu Peninsula, Goolwa, Victor Harbor |
| Butterfly species | White-spotted flash, Deudorix democles, Wattle blue, Theclinesthes miskini, Orange-flash crow, Euploea leucostictos, Blue-flash skipper, Rachelia extrusus, Australian Painted Lady, Cairns Birdwing, Ulysses Swallowtail, Blue tiger, Cabbage White Butterfly |
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What You'll Learn
- Caper White Butterflies migrate from west QLD to the east every 10 years
- The largest butterflies in the world are native to Australia
- The Australian Painted Lady, Cairns Birdwing, and Ulysses Swallowtail are unique to Australia
- Butterflies migrate in large masses
- Blue tiger butterflies migrate during spring and fly north in autumn
Caper White Butterflies migrate from west QLD to the east every 10 years
Australia is home to more than 400 species of butterflies, and among these, the Caper White Butterfly is known for its large migratory groups. Every 6 to 10 years, Brisbane and South-East Queensland experience a huge influx of these butterflies, migrating from west QLD to the east.
The Caper Whites migrate in search of food plants to lay their eggs. They usually fly inland, west of the Great Dividing Range, but a strong westerly wind can blow them off course, carrying them to the coast. During their migration, they maintain a rapid flight about 2 to 3 meters above the ground, resting on shrubs and trees at night.
In the spring, the Caper Whites migrate to areas with more caper shrubs and creepers. They have been observed migrating in a southerly direction during November and December, with some even reaching Tasmania. In 1999, thousands of Caper Whites passed through Marion, a rare occurrence that happens once in a decade.
The Caper White Butterflies' long-distance migration is comparable to the large brown Monarchs (Wanderers) in North America. Their natural caterpillar food plants, such as the Tree Caper, are found in the hot northern inland areas. During these migrations, females deposit thousands of eggs on these trees, resulting in an abundance of caterpillars that can damage the foliage.
The Caper White Butterflies' periodic mass migration is a fascinating natural phenomenon that occurs in Australia, and their presence is a delight to many locals and nature enthusiasts.
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The largest butterflies in the world are native to Australia
Australia is home to more than 400 species of butterflies, the majority of which are continental species. The largest butterflies in the world are native to the Australasian realm, and they are the birdwings—Ornithoptera and other genera—of the tribe Troidini of the swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae. The Cairns birding (Ornithoptera euphorion), a member of the birdwing butterfly group, is endemic to pockets of coastal north-eastern Queensland. With a wingspan that can reach 20 cm in females, they are the largest species of butterfly native to Australia and among the largest butterflies on Earth. The female Cairns birdwing is larger than the male.
The Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia), which has a 16-cm wingspan in females, is endemic to Queensland and the north-eastern corner of New South Wales. The Cairns birdwing and Richmond birdwing butterflies are closely related to the world's largest butterfly, Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae), found in Papua New Guinea, with a female wingspan of 27.5 cm.
Birdwing butterflies are fooled by toxic plants. The female Cairns birdwing uses chemical receptors in its forelegs to 'taste' leaves and identify the most tender leaves for caterpillars to feed on. However, the pest varieties of the genus Aristolochia, the Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans), and gaping Dutchman's pipe (A. ringens) are highly toxic to the butterflies.
In addition to the Cairns birdwing, other notable Australian butterflies include the Australian Painted Lady and the Ulysses Swallowtail. The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda Village is the country's largest butterfly exhibit. Other places to see butterflies in Australia include the Butterfly House in the Melbourne Zoo, East Gippsland in Southern Australia, and Bribie Island Butterfly House in Brisbane.
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The Australian Painted Lady, Cairns Birdwing, and Ulysses Swallowtail are unique to Australia
The Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi) is a species largely confined to Australia, although it has also spread to islands east of the country, including New Zealand. The butterfly is found throughout southern Australia, below the Tropic of Capricorn, and is particularly common in urban areas. Its life cycle lasts around 53 days during the summer, with females laying their eggs in the centre of the leaves of food plants. The Australian Painted Lady is believed to have evolved from the painted lady (V. cardui) due to the environmental conditions in Australia.
The Cairns Birdwing is the largest of all Australian butterflies, with a wingspan of up to 18cm in females. It is found along the northeastern coast of Australia, from Mackay to Cooktown. The male birdwing is colourful, with shades of green, gold, and black, while the female is black and white with some yellow. The female is also larger than the male. These butterflies live for about 4 to 5 weeks and their favourite habitat is the rainforest.
The Ulysses Swallowtail, with its scientific name Papilio Ulysses, is another distinctive butterfly species found in Tropical North Queensland. It is easily recognised by its iridescent blue colour and is considered one of the most elusive butterflies due to its quick and erratic flight patterns. The Ulysses caterpillar is green and white, the same colour as the plants they feed on, and has a wingspan of 100-130mm.
The presence of these unique butterfly species in Australia can be attributed to various factors, including the country's environmental conditions, food sources, and favourable habitats such as tropical rainforests.
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Butterflies migrate in large masses
Australia is home to over 400 species of butterflies, with the majority being continental species and more than a dozen endemic species from remote islands. Butterflies in Australia migrate in large masses, and this migration is not limited to a particular species. For example, the Caper White Butterfly is known to migrate from the west of Queensland to the east, with sightings in South Brisbane and Sydney.
The Blue Tiger Butterfly is another species that migrates in large numbers, and they are known to breed in coastal and monsoonal rainforests. Their migrations usually take place in the spring, as they make their way southward. In the autumn, these butterflies fly north to find over-wintering sites to wait out the cooler months.
The reasons behind butterfly migrations in Australia are not well understood. For instance, it is unclear why they fly south to colder areas where their caterpillar food plants are not available. Additionally, there is a lack of research on the specifics of their migrations, such as the origin, duration, speed, distance travelled per day, navigation methods, and synchronization of flight.
During migrations, butterflies may be seen in various locations, including forest and woodland areas, beaches, and along coastlines. They are also known to fly over the sea, which can result in thousands of butterflies perishing and washing up on beaches.
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Blue tiger butterflies migrate during spring and fly north in autumn
Blue tiger butterflies (Tirumala limniace) are a nymphalid butterfly species found in the Oriental Region of the world, with a subspecies in India. They are fond of flowers and feed on plants belonging to the Asclepiadaceae family. They are toxic, containing a compound that causes heart attacks when ingested in large quantities. This toxicity protects them from being eaten by birds.
In Australia, blue tiger butterflies have been observed migrating north along the Dune bush land and the open beach. They have been spotted in various locations, including Noosa National Park, Brisbane, Sarina Coast, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, and Cudgen. They are attracted to flowering plants, such as the Acronychia trees in Noosa National Park and Paperbarks in North Stradbroke Island.
Blue tiger butterflies are part of the larger butterfly diversity in Australia, which boasts over 400 species, including continental species and endemic species from remote islands.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is home to more than 400 species of butterflies, some introduced and some unique native species. The butterflies migrate in large masses and in various directions. Some migrate from the west of Queensland to the east, while others migrate from inland NSW to Adelaide.
Some unique native species of butterflies in Australia include the Australian Painted Lady, the Cairns Birdwing, and the Ulysses Swallowtail.
The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda Village is the largest butterfly exhibit in the country and is a notable place to see these butterflies. Other places to see butterflies in Australia include the Butterfly House in the Melbourne Zoo, East Gippsland in Southern Australia, and Bribie Island Butterfly House in Brisbane.
In November, a large migratory front of butterflies was noticed in the Riverland of South Australia, flying from north to south. The front amalgamated with smaller groups in the region, and they continued flying south, with some even reaching southern Yorke Peninsula and southern Eyre Peninsula.
