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Project Noah Nature School
Geitoneura klugii
A small butterfly with closed wings showing a mottled pattern of tan, cream and brown colours. When I convinced it to open it's wings the upper surfaces revealed an array of black and yellow patterns on all wings. Wingspan was about 25mm. Some attractive colours noted around the thorax.
Within a nature reserve incorporating stringybark, acacias, pomaderris, pittosporum, assorted woody shrubs and grasses.
Found in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. Caterpillars feed on poaceae. Thanks martinl for ID.
Thanks Daniele and Martin. Thanks lori - I'll check into the size issue. Lucky my finger tip is there for comparison.
Mark, every-so-often I spot a tiny little brown butterfly. I figure it must have been an undersized caterpillar when it cocooned. I think that might be why your spotting was so small. They're usually males, so I guess the strategy is that it's better to hatch out little, and on time, than full-sized and too late.
Its the smallest of the 'browns'. The clubbed antennae are distinctive for all butterflies and you will never see them on moths (as your previous spotting) which are tapered or feathered.
Lovely! With these eyespots, possibly Satyrinae Mark? Some possible candidates here?
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au...
Spotted on Oct 11, 2013
Submitted on Oct 11, 2013
+1
