List of butterflies of Tasmania facts for kids

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 subspecies, 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.

Papilionidae

Macleay's swallowtail (Graphium macleayanus), Franklin - Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Tasmania, Australia

family: Papilionidae (swallowtails) — 1 species

Papilioninae

genus: Graphium

• Macleay's swallowtail, Graphium macleayanus (moggana)

Pieridae

Small white

family: Pieridae (whites and yellows) — 4 species

Coliadinae

genus: Eurema

• Small grass yellow, Eurema smilax

Pierinae

genus: Appias

• Albatross butterfly, Appias paulina

genus: Anaphaeis

• Caper white, Anaphaeis java

genus: Pieris

• Small white, Pieris rapae

Lycaenidae

family: Lycaenidae (gossamer-winged blues and coppers) — 9 species

Zizina labradus, the common grass blue perched on a rose

Polyommatinae

genus: Candalides

• Blotched blue, Candalides acasta

genus: Lampides

• Pea blue, Lampides boeticus

genus: Neolucia

• Fringed blue, Neolucia agricola
• Mountain blue, Neolucia hobartensis
• Mathew's blue, Neolucia mathewi

genus: Theclinesthes

• Chequered blue, Theclinesthes serpentata

genus: Zizina

• Common grass blue, Zizina labradus

Theclinae

genus: Paralucia

• Bright copper, Paralucia aurifer

genus: Pseudalmenus

• Tasmanian hairstreak, Pseudalmenus chlorinda (chlorinda)

Nymphalidae

family: Nymphalidae (brush– or four-footed) — 14 species

Junonia villida, the meadow argus

Danainae

genus: Danaus

• Lesser wanderer butterfly, Danaus chrysippus
• Wanderer butterfly, Danaus plexippus

Nymphalinae

genus: Junonia

• Meadow argus, Junonia villida

genus: Vanessa

• Yellow admiral, Vanessa itea
• Australian painted lady, Vanessa kershawi

Satyrinae

Common brown

genus: Argynnina

• Tasmanian brown, Argynnina hobartia

genus: Geitoneura

• Klug's xenica, Geitoneura klugii

genus: Heteronympha

• Bright-eyed brown, Heteronympha cordace
• Common brown, Heteronympha merope
• Shouldered brown, Heteronympha penelope

genus: Nesoxenica

• Leprea brown, Nesoxenica leprea

genus: Oreixenica

• Common silver xenica, Oreixenica lathoniella
• Orichora brown, Oreixenica orichora
• Ptunarra brown, Oreixenica ptunarra

Hesperiidae

family: Hesperiidae (skippers) — 11 species

Anisynta dominula

Yellow-banded dart

genus: Anisynta

• Dominula skipper Anisynta dominula

genus: Antipodia

• Antipodia skipper Antipodia chaostola

genus: Hesperilla

• Chrysotricha skipper Hesperilla chrysotricha
• Donnysa skipper Hesperilla donnysa
• Flame skipper Hesperilla idothea
• Master's skipper Hesperilla mastersi

genus: Ocybadistes

• Yellow-banded dart Ocybadistes walkeri

genus: Oreisplanus

• Marrawah skipper or alpine skipper Oreisplanus munionga

genus: Pasma

• Tasmanica skipper or two-spotted grass-skipper Pasma tasmanicus

genus: Taractrocera

• White grassdart Taractrocera papyria

genus: Trapezites

• Rare white-spot skipper Trapezites lutea