Photographs
Victorian Butterflies and their Food Plants is the only publication that
has photographs and ecological descriptions of all species of butterflies
and all species of food plants.
There are usually several photographs for a species showing, for
butterflies, males, females, (upper and lower sides), eggs, caterpillars,
chrysalises or, for plants, flowers, fruit, leaves, bark and so on.
In total there are over 1500 photographs of about 360 species.
Descriptions
For each species a simple and concise description has been prepared. As much as possible non-technical language has been used in these descriptions but when this is not practical an on-line glossary is included which can be accessed by simply
highlighting the word then clicking the right mouse-button.
For each butterfly species the descriptions contain information on general appearance, colours, differences (if any) between
males and females, eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises, food plants, times of
activity, breeding data and conservation status.
For each plant species the descriptions contain information on the general appearance, flowers (or spores if a fern), fruit, leaves and (often) its preferred environment. Other pieces of information include flowering time, place of origin (if the species is not native), Koorie use (if any),
butterflies that feed on them, conservation status, habitat and a variety of other characteristics.
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| Ogyris
otanes - Small Bronze Azure
Adult specimens
Caterpillar and attendant ants
Chrysalis
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General Appearance:
A small blue and brown butterfly, with a wingspan of about 35-40 mm.
Males upper side of wings are deep, slightly blue-violet to brown
with dark brown edges; under side of the wings are mottled fawn and
grey with large black areas on the forewings which have pale blue,
wavy lines. Females are dark brown to black on the upper surface
with large yellow spots on the forewing and large areas of metallic
blue; under sides of wings similar to males except for large yellow
spots on the forewings.
Eggs: Hemispherical, dark
grey-brown.
Larvae (Caterpillar): Creamy
white, translucent, suffused with pink-brown or dull orange. Head
pale brown. Plant appears scorched when larvae are present. Both
larvae and pupae are found in nests of a sugar ant (Campanotus spp.)
at base of food plant. Larvae feed at night on young growth and
shelter during day.
Pupae (Chrysalis): Very pale
brown to white, brown line on back of abdomen.
Notes: Adults flying in two
periods: from October to December and again in March. Often seen
flying near tops of sand dunes (hill-topping) and appear to patrol
for short distances along dune and settle on ground or dead twigs
near ground. When disturbed they fly away rapidly at about 2m above
ground. May circle around higher bushes to about 3 m if these are
prominent.
Conservation: [f] Listed
under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee. [e] Endangered
in Victoria. [N] Native to and breeds in Victoria.
Other States: SA WA
Caterpillar Food Plants (that grow wild in Victoria): Choretrum
glomeratum, Choretrum spicatum
Other Common Names: Small
Brown Azure, Western Dark Azure |
| Choretrum
glomeratum - Common Sour-bush 
|
General Appearance: A
virtually leafless, semi-parasitic shrub, to 2 m tall, with narrow,
erect or spreading, yellow-green branches, tiny yellow or white
flowers, and yellow-green, fleshy fruit.
Leaves: Reduced to small,
deciduous, scales, about 1 mm long.
Flowers: Yellow or white,
about 3 mm wide, with 5, ovate, petals. (Jan Sep Oct Nov Dec)
Fruit: Yellow green, ovoid,
fleshy, to 7 mm wide.
Environment: Lowland
woodlands, often in lower rainfall areas.
Notes: The species is often a
parasite on the roots of surrounding plants.
Conservation: [r] Rare
in Victoria.
Other States: NSW SA WA
Commonly Associated Trees: Eucalyptus
costata subsp. murrayana
Food Plant for Butterflies: Hypochrysops
ignita ignita [Fiery Jewel], Ogyris otanes [Small Bronze Azure]
Annual Rainfall: 379 to 551
mm
Warmest Temperatures: 29 to
31 °C
Coolest Temperatures: 3 to 5
°C
Altitude: 78 to 230 m ASL
Other Common Names: Berry
Broombush
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