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Garry Sankowsky | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Australian Butterflies and Moths

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Australian Butterflies and Moths

A selection of butterflies and moths from Australia.

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Bee Hawk Moth feeding - Cephonodes	Bee Hawk Moth - larva	Bee Hawk Moth - larva	Gum Tree Hawk Moth - Coequosa australasiae
Giant Privet Hawk Moth - larva	Bee Hawk Moth - larva	Pisonia Hawk Moth - larva	Hercules Moth - larva
Hercules Moth - female	Hercules Moths - mating	Hercules Moth - male	Emperor Moth - larva
Emperor Moth - larva	Emperor Moth - larava	Mistletoe Emperor Moth - larva	Mistletoe Emperor Moth - larva
Four O'Clock Moth - larva	Nyctalemon patroclus	Zodiac Moths	Zodiac Moth

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comment |

Guest		09-Apr-2021 03:05
9/4/2021.I have been whatching a butterfly/moth in our garden at Bellbird in the Huntervalley.It has a wingspan of about 50CM.It has complete white top of wings and brilliant multi coloured under wing. Any ideas any one?

Guest		22-Oct-2019 05:44
Spotted 3 moths/butterflies in the bush on our property north of perth yesterday. about 2/3 rds the size of a white cabbage moth but the same vivid blue as the wrens we have in the garden at the moment. spend a lot of time in the bush and have never seen them before. can anyone enlighten me? Unable to identify by any picks i have managed to find. No other colour or markings.

Guest		16-May-2018 06:04
I'm surprised to see so many people from Albany and Denmark WA (where I live) as the chances are pretty low. I saw the same moth twice. It was 7-8 cm, and mostly white with a blue tinge on it's body (which was quite fluffy.) I can't find anything online about it. If I see it again I'll take a picture.

Guest		17-Apr-2017 11:33
ID Please - Blue Moth last night at Gluepot Reserve in SA. 10cm x 5 cm https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/17990251_10213340544574964_1271806185634400363_o.jpg?oh=8777461835869c3fc6ed54833db2bb37&oe=594DDC3D Cheers

Geoffrey		15-Jan-2017 02:19
We have a larger black butterfly with some white spots? In Lower King Albany. Is this a pest to worry about?

Leanne		06-May-2016 12:23
I also saw a buterfly one day that I can not find in any library. It was a orange buterfly with acqua blue on the end. The two colours were a solid colour. Just fanisated why I can't find it it books. This buterfly actually landed on my elbow so got a close look at it.

Paul Martin		10-Apr-2016 04:37
Perth, 10/4/2016.Found a magnificent Orchard Swallowtail (I think) but it is missing the two white triangles by the orange spots towards the tail. Have photo but it'll take me a while to work out how to download and forward to you. Is it female or a sub species? Strikes me as being too similar to be anything else.

Pat		24-Feb-2016 00:34
Haven't been able to get a photo yet, but I have in my garden on Magnetic Island (NQ) a butterfly with plain brown(black?) under wings and a beautiful mauve colour on the upper side. Can't see any patterns as they fly around, but they do have a few wispy bits at the rear of the body, almost looking like extra legs at the back! Probably they're no more than 5cm wingspan. Would love to know what they are - flitting about on my Michelia bush but not there now, Might come back in the cooler part of the day. Anyone know what this could be? Might even be the same butterfyl Vicki Baker is asking about below.

Guest		15-Sep-2015 08:39
we found an odd large green moth almost the size of a small bat.

fayette purser		24-Jun-2015 07:10
Hello - I saw the most glorious butterfly in January of this year (2015) Large green and yellow with black trim. The size would have been the size of the palm of my hand around 7cm x 7cm. I saw it fly by out my back window. I live on Tamborine Mt (Eagle Heights) backing onto NP rainforest type setting. If anyone can give me the name or a photo.

Guest		27-May-2015 02:52
I'm also in Denmark WA and have three of the gorgeous green moths mentioned below by Jean and Linda at my door today. Must be a Djeran/Autumn thing. I'd love to ID them, can anyone help? Zoe

Vicki Baker		25-Jan-2015 22:23
I have found some butterflies at our lagoon in rainforest in FNQ. They are small , about an inch on each wingspan. The bottom side of them is black so when they are sitting they look black, Then when they fly they are brilliant electric blue and seem to be fluorescent and glow. This is the top side of their wings and there is no pattern.. I've asked around and no one knows. They look the same shape as migrants.. Any ideas? I can't take a photo as they are quick and shy..

Vicki Baker		25-Jan-2015 22:23
I have found some butterflies at our lagoon in rainforest in FNQ. They are small , about an inch on each wingspan. The bottom side of them is black so when they are sitting they look black, Then when they fly they are brilliant electric blue and seem to be fluorescent and glow. This is the top side of their wings and there is no pattern.. I've asked around and no one knows. They look the same shape as migrants.. Any ideas? I can't take a photo as they are quick and shy..

Guest		24-Jan-2015 11:09
I live in Cairns, North Queensland and I would like to know the name of a small butterfly that has a bold purple wingspan (may have had black edging)and brown under the wings.

Judy Argyle		23-Jan-2015 14:05
Hello Joy, I'm in Albany too. We have had these butterflies around St John's rectory (where we live) for the last three years. There are lots of them here at the moment. They are Orchard Swallowtails. Some are as big as my hand. They seem almost tame and will come and sit on me while I'm gardening. I have taken photos of them. Judy.

j mackenzie		29-Dec-2014 14:15
In Albany WA 28.12.14 I noticed a large black butterly, with white on it and a very bright red patch flying around. It wouldn't stop long enough for me to detail a better description, (and no camera available.) more the size of a monarch than the usual white butterfly I have never seen one before.... can anyone suggest what it may have been. cheers Joy Mackenzie

kerry harrison		16-Sep-2014 23:50
I've taken photo of large pupae, dark grey, yellow circling black with white spotted elliptical eyes? Two tawny orange bands running from the bottom of each downto mouth. Eight orange spots mark eachsegment on sides of body with 2 black dots and tiny white dots. Two orange bands run down to proboscis. Entire body is stippled dots. Two large yrllow dots behind head. I'm in the Wide Bay area and hope someone can identify.

Guest		22-Aug-2014 08:55
I saw one big thick orange and had wings like a dragon

Guest		08-May-2014 06:50
Refer to my comment to Jean re moth -sorry, forgot to put my name - it is Linda Barnes,Denmark

Guest		08-May-2014 06:48
Hi Jean! I live in Denmark WA & today I had on my doorstep exactly like yours. Did you discover the name of the one you found. Mine was a female & she laid eggs on the threshold.

Jean Downes		27-Apr-2014 01:32
I live in Albany Western Australia and have found two very large green and gold moths/butterfly I am not sure which. They have two white slashes on their wings and are 7cm from head to tail. Any suggestions? I have taken a photo if required. Jean

Carol Gill		05-Apr-2014 23:36
I saw a new comer to my Webbs Creek NSW (Hawkesbury River) garden the other day. It was a large black butterfly with rounded wings and had a strong red horizontal band like big splodges on the bottom half of the upperwing. I have been trying to ID it and cant find a thing. It was fluttering about with Wanderers in the Buddlias. Wing span could easily have been 4 cm. I can't remember any other colour except black and red.

Gabe		20-Mar-2014 09:11
Hi any clues on which small brown moth has 2 gold spots on each wing ?

Gabe		20-Mar-2014 09:08
Hi I'm trying to identify a moth that flew in one night ---small , brown with 2 gold spots on each wing.Would you know what it is ? Cheers Gabrielle

Neil Ross		11-May-2013 03:43
A found a black caterpillar, smooth with no protrusions, approx. 40-45mm long, red and yellow spots/stripes, very dark triangular patches above each spot, longer red stripe on lower body. Very fine white spots over much of its body. Found on Fishbone Fern - Nephrolepis cordifolia. Would love to know what it is... and what it will grow into.

corinne broadby		28-Apr-2013 02:10
Good morning my name is Corinne I have a problem with some/heaps of caterpillars in my vege patch. I would like to have it identified please if anyone can help. It is black with white stripes and an orange head about one inch long and it prefers the juicier type leaves such as hippiastrums. Ill try to include pic. Regards Corinne

lyn		16-Apr-2013 12:25
sorry, i should say the chrysalis is white with black lines that have orange spots along it, i found a dead butterfly nearby similar colours.

lyn		16-Apr-2013 12:23
Found a chrysalis in my garden today, on a groundcover plant while weeding. We are an island and not many butterflies - little yellow one, common eggfly and white/black swallowtail? i have pix how can i send?

Frances McLeary		12-Apr-2013 06:06
Can you help? On a window so had a good look at both sides but alas no camera with me. Night moth approx 2cm length, wings flat not raised, colour was white, almost transparent on underside so outline of black markings from top side could be seen as a pattern, body white (almost crystline in appearance) with segments clearly defined widthwise. On back of wings black markings like a stained glass window clearly defined. Upper rear body white, slightly furry with several small black dots. The general appearance was a white moth with black markings. The most amazing feature of this lovely creature was its bright red legs! No other red anywhere. I enjoy the variety of insect life we see here (Woodgate Beach, Queensland) and we are very close to the National Park. I have photographed a variety of moths and managed to identify at least the species but this is one I have never seen even a photo of and would really value your comments.

Garry Sankowsky		01-Jan-2013 21:54
The green pupa would probably be a Wanderer or Lesser Wanderer.

nancy barker		27-Sep-2012 00:41
We found a pale green pupa with gold shiny band at the upper third and gold specks at the bottom on our hose holder. Any ideas.

Marg		09-Sep-2012 22:27
I have a photo of a small grey moth with yellow polka dots. The photo was taken in northern Tasmania, and i had never seen it before or since.

Guest		09-Apr-2012 18:11
clean

Guest		10-Dec-2011 10:13
i have a photo (from chinchilla, qld) of a white moth with red edges on its wings and also thin black stripes mid-wing. it's about the size of a small finger. any idea what moth this is. mpolichay@gmail.com

Katie Perera		29-Nov-2011 07:37
Brilliant page and photos. I am enjoying Cairns Birdwing, Clearwing Swallowtail/Cressida cressida/Big Greasy, Ulysses Swallowtail and Orchid Flash breeding in my garden at the moment. It's wonderful to be able to check your photos as a reference since "The complete field guide to Butterflies of Australia" only shows the butterfly and not the larva and pupa stages of development like you have. Great work.

MV		10-Sep-2011 04:01
Hi Sue, I think what you saw was the cocoon of a Zodiac Moth. They normally live in Queensland but it really sounds like that. You should look up the Zodiac Moth on Google, which is active during the day like a butterfly. They are beautiful and the caterpillars are orange/red/brown and have black stripes. There is a youtube video I saw from one of the botanical gardens which is quite informative and has footage of the caterpillars and the cocoon which is encompased in leaves and sticks like you said. Hope that helps. Cheers, MV PS - does anyone know how long a moth can live for without food?

MV		01-Sep-2011 12:35
Hi, Can some one please tell me what zodiac moth larvae look like just after they've hatched? What colour/size and what they eat? Thanks

sue barber		07-Mar-2011 04:49
recently at home Northern n.s.w. a chrysallis (pupa) attached to fence, tube like but looked like small brissles or twigs in this neat package. All I could see was a tiny orange and brown head attaching itself to the fence from within. Can't find anything on net. Any clues ???

Bruce		17-Jan-2011 06:50
We live on the Western side of the Snowy Mountains. Today my wife saw a butterfly of iridecent Orange and a black body. Can anybody suggest the name of this beautiful insect

Garry Sankowsky		05-Jan-2011 06:53
If you have a question about any image please contact me direct as I rarely have time to check my Pbase pages.

Attraction in Australia		19-Aug-2010 12:48
Nice blog. Orchard Swallowtail caterpillar is found in Australia. Most of the butterflies in this family are large in size and with brilliant colours. They are called Swallowtails because some of species have tailed hindwings. However, not all family members have tails, although most Swallowtails found in Brisbane have no tails. www.australiavoyage.net

Suzie48		19-May-2010 21:27
In the last couple of days, I've spotted (without my glasses on) a beautiful butterfly which, when the wings are open, it is white, and when resting, every colour under the rainbow. Any ideas as to what it might be. I've lived on the Gold Coast for 16 years and never seen this type of butterfly before. Regards - Suzie

Penny		22-Nov-2009 03:34
There are some attractive large butterflies that frequent my yard at this time of the year [Nov +], they are fairly large with black and white wings, sometimes with red or orange. In anothr garden I also had them and they laid their eggs on my impatients plants. The grubs were almost as thick as my fingers, and looked as if they were wearing a black velvet body stocking with red and white stripes. I have no impatients in this garden, but they seem to like the lemon tree. What are they?

Jan Forrest		31-Oct-2009 02:51
Jan Forrest here again, - further to my last comment, I just went next door to have a look and report to the neighbours what I have/not found online. It was on the move when I went in. It appears to have a caterpillary type head with legs! I can't see it very well as I said it is under the eaves and even with a magnifying glass and old eyes it is hard to distinguish exactly. It is amazing anyway!

Jan Forrest		31-Oct-2009 02:43
Help please..... my neighbour has found a 'critter' thin like a dead leaf but wide like about, 1cm., sort of diamond shaped and brown flecked black grey color. (Lost yet?) It was on the back aluminium glass door and has "moved" to the underhang of the eaves at his back door. It appears to be attached with a sucker type mouth/legs which allows it to move???? We are stumped and all the sites I've looked at don't provide any solution. Yours is the best so far because you at least show the pupa belonging to the critter. I thought it was a pupa, it may not be and that might be why I can't find it - it might be a critter in it's own right! If you can help me I would be really pleased! In anticipation, I say thank you for trying.... I am sincerely, Jan Forrest, Thornton Victoria, Australia, 3712

Don Herbison-Evans		27-Jul-2009 14:08
Hi Cheryl, About half the butterflies in Lycaenidae have blue wings. Where did you seeit? What is the approximate wingspan? Cheers, Don

Cheryl Huber		15-Oct-2006 23:32
I've taken a picture of an insect with blue wings, tipped white. The body is bright red. I can't find a picture to match it anywhere. Any clues?

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