List of butterflies of Tasmania
Encyclopedia
Tasmania
is located south of the mainland of Australia
, separated from the state of Victoria
by the 240 km wide Bass Strait
. Although Tasmania shares most of its fauna with the southern parts of Australia or Australia as a whole, Tasmania's isolation along with its wetter, cooler and cloudier weather caused the evolution of several endemic Tasmanian species
and sub-species, butterflies included.
There are thirty-nine species of butterflies found in Tasmania
. They are grouped primarily as: skippers, blues
, browns
, swallowtails and the introduced whites
.
) — 1 species
(Whites and Yellows) — 4 species
(Gossamer
-winged Blues and Coppers) — 9 species
(Brush– or four-footed) — 14 species
) — 11 species
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
is located south of the mainland of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, separated from the state of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
by the 240 km wide Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
. Although Tasmania shares most of its fauna with the southern parts of Australia or Australia as a whole, Tasmania's isolation along with its wetter, cooler and cloudier weather caused the evolution of several endemic Tasmanian species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and sub-species, butterflies included.
There are thirty-nine species of butterflies found in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. They are grouped primarily as: skippers, blues
Polyommatinae
Polyommatinae, the blues, are a subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies . It was long used to assign taxa of unclear relationships, and its contents are in need of revision...
, browns
Satyrinae
Satyrinae, the satyrines or satyrids, commonly known as the Browns, is a subfamily of the Nymphalidae . They were formerly considered a distinct family, Satyridae. This group contains nearly half of the known diversity of brush-footed butterflies...
, swallowtails and the introduced whites
Pierinae
The Pierinae are a large subfamily of Pierid butterflies. The subfamily is one of several clades of butterflies often referred to as the Whites...
.
Papilionidae
family: Papilionidae (SwallowtailsSwallowtail butterfly
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
) — 1 species
Papilioninae
- genus: Graphium
-
- Macleay's Swallowtail, Graphium macleayanus (moggana)Graphium macleayanusThe Macleay's Swallowtail is a butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. The species was named after Alexander Macleay.-Taxonomy:...
- Macleay's Swallowtail, Graphium macleayanus (moggana)
-
Pieridae
family: PieridaePieridae
The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing approximately 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and Asia. Most pierid butterflies are white, yellow or orange in coloration, often with black spots...
(Whites and Yellows) — 4 species
Pierinae
- genus: AppiasAppiasIn ancient Rome Appias was a statue of a nymph near the Appiades Fountain in the Forum of Caesar. Ovid wrote that the fountain was in the middle of the Temple of Venus Genetrix and surrounded by statues of nymphs who were called "The Appiades"...
-
- Albatross Butterfly, Appias paulinaAppias paulinaThe Common Albatross, Christmas Island White or Ceylon Lesser Albatross is a butterfly of the Pieridae family...
- Albatross Butterfly, Appias paulina
-
- genus: Anaphaeis
-
- Caper White, Anaphaeis java
-
- genus: PierisPierisPieris can refer to:Organisms* Pieris is the andromeda or fetterbush genus in the plant family Ericaceae* Pieris , described by Franz Paula von Schrank in 1801, is the garden white genus in the butterfly family Pieridae...
-
- Small White, Pieris rapae
-
Lycaenidae
family: LycaenidaeLycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
(Gossamer
Gossamer
Gossamer commonly refers to:* Gossamer , very fine spider silk used for ballooning or kiting by various species of spiders* Gossamer , very light, sheer, gauze-like fabricGossamer may also refer to:- Technology :...
-winged Blues and Coppers) — 9 species
Polyommatinae
- genus: CandalidesCandalidesCandalides is a genus of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae....
-
- Blotched Blue, Candalides acastaCandalides acastaThe Blotched Blue is a species of butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in southern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia....
- Blotched Blue, Candalides acasta
-
- genus: LampidesLampidesLampides is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae.-Species:*Lampides boeticus *Lampides byneri Moulton, 1911*Lampides kankena*Lampides lacteata- Links :* *...
-
- Pea Blue, Lampides boeticusLampides boeticusThe Peablue, Pea Blue, or Long-tailed Blue is a small butterfly found in Europe, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Australia that belongs to the Lycaenids or gossamer-winged family....
- Pea Blue, Lampides boeticus
-
- genus: NeoluciaNeoluciaNeolucia is a genus of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae....
-
- Fringed Blue, Neolucia agricola
- Mountain Blue, Neolucia hobartensis
- Mathew's Blue, Neolucia mathewi
-
- genus: TheclinesthesTheclinesthesTheclinesthes is a genus of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.-Species:*Theclinesthes albocincta *Theclinesthes eremicola *Theclinesthes hesperia Sibatani & Grund, 1978...
-
- Chequered Blue, Theclinesthes serpentata
-
- genus: ZizinaZizinaZizina is a genus of gossamer-winged butterflies in the subfamily Polyommatinae.-Species:*Zizina antanossa *?Zizina emelina*Zizina labradus *Zizina otis *?Zizina oxleyi...
-
- Common Grass Blue, Zizina labradusZizina labradusZizina labradus, commonly known as the Common Grass Blue, Grass Blue, or Clover Blue, is a small Australian butterfly of the Lycaenidae family.-Description:...
- Common Grass Blue, Zizina labradus
-
Theclinae
- genus: ParaluciaParaluciaParalucia is a genus of butterflies belonging to the family Lycaenidae. The caterpillars feed on Bursaria and sometimes Pittosporum species and co-habit with ants of the genera Anonychomyrma and Notoncus.-Species:...
-
- Bright Copper, Paralucia aurifer
-
- genus: PseudalmenusPseudalmenusPseudalmenus is a genus of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae....
-
- Tasmanian Hairstreak, Pseudalmenus chlorinda (chlorinda)
-
Nymphalidae
family: NymphalidaeNymphalidae
The Nymphalidae is a family of about 5,000 species of butterflies which are distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called...
(Brush– or four-footed) — 14 species
Danainae
- genus: DanausDanausIn Greek mythology Danaus, or Danaos , was the twin brother of Aegyptus and son of Achiroe and Belus, a mythical king of Egypt. The myth of Danaus is a foundation legend of Argos, one of the foremost Mycenaean cities of the Peloponnesus...
-
- Lesser Wanderer Butterfly, Danaus chrysippusDanaus chrysippusDanaus chrysippus, known as the Plain Tiger or African Monarch, is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae...
- Wanderer Butterfly, Danaus plexippus
- Lesser Wanderer Butterfly, Danaus chrysippus
-
Nymphalinae
- genus: JunoniaJunoniaJunonia is a genus of nymphalid butterflies, described by Jacob Hübner in 1819. They are commonly known as Buckeyes, Pansies, or Commodores. This genus flies on every continent except Antarctica. The genus contains about 30–35 species....
-
- Meadow Argus, Junonia villida
-
- genus: VanessaVanessaVanessa can refer to:* A member service officer at SOMB.* Vanessa , a female given name coined by Jonathan Swift, originally as a nickname for Esther Vanhomrigh* Vanessa , a genus of butterflies...
-
- Yellow Admiral, Vanessa itea
- Australian Painted Lady, Vanessa kershawi
-
Satyrinae
- genus: Argynnina
-
- Tasmanian Brown, Argynnina hobartiaArgynnina hobartiaThe Hobart Brown is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is endemic to Tasmania.The wingspan is about 30 mm.The larvae feed on various grasses, including Lolium perenne.-Subspecies:...
- Tasmanian Brown, Argynnina hobartia
-
- genus: GeitoneuraGeitoneuraGeitoneura is a genus of nymphalid butterflies, commonly known as Xenicas. The genus contains 3 species.-Species:*Geitoneura acantha *Geitoneura klugii...
-
- Klug's Xenica, Geitoneura klugiiGeitoneura klugiiThe Common Xenica or Klug's Xenica is a species of butterfly belonging to the Nymphalidae family of the Lepidoptera order. It is a southern Australian butterfly that is easily camouflaged because of its resemblance to the ground where it is usually found fluttering. It can be identified based on...
- Klug's Xenica, Geitoneura klugii
-
- genus: HeteronymphaHeteronymphaHeteronympha is a genus of butterflies in the Nymphalidae family. The genus contains 7 species.-Species:*Heteronympha banksii *Heteronympha cordace *Heteronympha merope...
-
- Bright-eyed Brown, Heteronympha cordace
- Common Brown, Heteronympha meropeHeteronympha meropeThe Common Brown is a species of butterfly of the Nymphalidae family, endemic to the southern half of Australia...
- Shouldered Brown, Heteronympha penelope
-
- genus: Nesoxenica
-
- Leprea Brown, Nesoxenica leprea
-
- genus: OreixenicaOreixenicaOreixenica is a genus of butterflies in the Nymphalidae family. The genus contains 6 species.-Species:*Oreixenica orichora *Oreixenica ptunarra Couchman, 1953*Oreixenica latialis Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914...
-
- Common Silver Xenica, Oreixenica lathoniella
- Orichroa Brown, Oreixenica orichora
- Ptunarra Brown, Oreixenica ptunarra
-
Hesperiidae
family: Hesperiidae (SkippersSkipper (butterfly)
A skipper or skipper butterfly is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. They are named after their quick, darting flight habits. There are more than 3500 recognized species of skippers and they occur worldwide, but with the greatest diversity in the Neotropical regions of Central and South...
) — 11 species
- genus: AnisyntaAnisyntaAnisynta is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.-Species:*Anisynta sphenosema Meyrick & Lower, 1902*Anisynta cynone Hewitson, 1874*Anisynta tillyardi Waterhouse & Lyell, 1912*Anisynta monticolae Olliff, 1890...
-
- Dominula Skipper Anisynta dominulaAnisynta dominulaThe Two-brand Grass-skipper or Dominula Skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the mountains of New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria....
- Dominula Skipper Anisynta dominula
-
- genus: AntipodiaAntipodiaAntipodia is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.-Species:*Antipodia atralba Tepper, 1882*Antipodia chaostola Meyrick, 1888*Antipodia dactyliota Meyrick, 1888-References:**...
-
- Antipodia Skipper Antipodia chaostolaAntipodia chaostolaThe Chaostola Skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found along the coast of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.The wingspan is about 30 mm....
- Antipodia Skipper Antipodia chaostola
-
- genus: HesperillaHesperillaHesperilla is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.-Species:*Hesperilla ornata Leach, 1814*Hesperilla picta Leach, 1814*Hesperilla crypsargyra Meyrick, 1888*Hesperilla chrysotricha Meyrick & Lower, 1902...
-
- Chrysotricha Skipper Hesperilla chrysotrichaHesperilla chrysotrichaThe Chrysotricha Skipper or Goldenhaired Sedge-skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.The wingspan is about 35 mm for males...
- Donnysa Skipper Hesperilla donnysaHesperilla donnysaThe Donnysa Skipper or Varied Sedge Skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia....
- Flame Skipper Hesperilla idotheaHesperilla idotheaThe Flame Sedge-skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.The wingspan is about 40 mm....
- Master's Skipper Hesperilla mastersiHesperilla mastersiThe Chequered Sedge-skipper or Master's Skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. It was also found in Tasmania, but the small area where its food plant was growing was cleared to provide cattle pasture...
- Chrysotricha Skipper Hesperilla chrysotricha
-
- genus: OcybadistesOcybadistesOcybadistes is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.-Species:*Ocybadistes flavovittata *Ocybadistes walkeri Heron, 1894*Ocybadistes knightorum Lambkin & Donaldson, 1994*Ocybadistes ardea Bethune-Baker, 1906...
-
- Yellow-banded Dart Ocybadistes walkeriOcybadistes walkeriOcybadistes walkeri, commonly known as the Greenish Grass-dart, Green Grass-dart, Southern Dart or Yellow-banded Dart, is a type of butterfly known as a Skipper found in eastern and southern Australia, with one subspecies found in the Northern Territory.The larvae feed on Dianella, Brachypodium...
- Yellow-banded Dart Ocybadistes walkeri
-
- genus: OreisplanusOreisplanusOreisplanus is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.-Species:*Oreisplanus munionga Olliff, 1890*Oreisplanus perornata Kirby, 1893-References:**...
-
- Marrawah Skipper or Alpine Skipper Oreisplanus muniongaOreisplanus muniongaThe Alpine Sedge-skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria.The wingspan is about 30 mm....
- Marrawah Skipper or Alpine Skipper Oreisplanus munionga
-
- genus: PasmaPasmaPasma refers to a "folk illness" unique to the Filipino culture. As such, it has distinct signs, symptoms, perceived causes and treatments which are recognized in the folk medicine of the Philippines, but these are not described in medical textbooks, discussed in medical schools, or generally...
-
- Tasmanica Skipper or Two-spotted Grass-skipper Pasma tasmanicusPasma tasmanicusThe Two Spotted Grass Skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.The wingspan is about 30 mm....
- Tasmanica Skipper or Two-spotted Grass-skipper Pasma tasmanicus
-
- genus: TaractroceraTaractroceraTaractrocera is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.-Species:*Taractrocera ardonia *Taractrocera tilda Evans, 1934*Taractrocera archias Taractrocera is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.-Species:*Taractrocera ardonia (Hewitson, 1868)*Taractrocera tilda Evans, 1934*Taractrocera...
-
- White Grassdart Taractrocera papyriaTaractrocera papyriaThe White-banded Grass-dart is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia....
- White Grassdart Taractrocera papyria
-
- genus: TrapezitesTrapezitesTrapezites is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae. All species are endemic to Australia.-Species:*Trapezites argenteoornatus Hewitson, 1868*Trapezites atkinsi Williams, Williams & Hay, 1998*Trapezites eliena Hewitson, 1868...
-
- Rare White-spot Skipper Trapezites luteaTrapezites luteaThe Rare White Spot Skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.The wingspan is about 30 mm....
- Rare White-spot Skipper Trapezites lutea
-