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List of butterflies of Tasmania facts for kids

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Tasmania is an island south of mainland Australia. It's separated from Victoria by the 240 km wide Bass Strait. Even though Tasmania shares many animals with southern Australia, its isolation and unique weather have led to special kinds of animals. This includes some butterflies found nowhere else!

There are 39 different kinds of butterflies living in Tasmania. They are usually grouped into five main types: skippers, blues, browns, swallowtails, and the introduced whites.

Swallowtail Butterflies

Graphium macleayanus
Macleay's swallowtail butterfly, found in Franklin - Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Tasmania.

The Papilionidae family includes the beautiful swallowtail butterflies. There is only one species of swallowtail found in Tasmania.

Meet the Macleay's Swallowtail

  • Genus: Graphium
    • Macleay's swallowtail, Graphium macleayanus (moggana)

White and Yellow Butterflies

Butterfly November 2007-5
The small white butterfly.

The Pieridae family includes the white and yellow butterflies. You can find four different species of these butterflies in Tasmania.

Yellow Butterflies

  • Genus: Eurema
    • Small grass yellow, Eurema smilax

White Butterflies

  • Genus: Appias
    • Albatross butterfly, Appias paulina
  • Genus: Anaphaeis
    • Caper white, Anaphaeis java
  • Genus: Pieris
    • Small white, Pieris rapae

Blue and Copper Butterflies

Zizina labradus-Butterfly-on-Rose SC,-EG-Vic,-23.2.2008
The common grass blue butterfly resting on a rose.

The Lycaenidae family includes the gossamer-winged blues and coppers. There are nine species of these lovely butterflies in Tasmania.

Blue Butterflies

  • Genus: Candalides
    • Blotched blue, Candalides acasta
  • Genus: Lampides
  • Genus: Neolucia
    • Fringed blue, Neolucia agricola
    • Mountain blue, Neolucia hobartensis
    • Mathew's blue, Neolucia mathewi
  • Genus: Theclinesthes
    • Chequered blue, Theclinesthes serpentata
  • Genus: Zizina

Copper Butterflies

  • Genus: Paralucia
    • Bright copper, Paralucia aurifer
  • Genus: Pseudalmenus
    • Tasmanian hairstreak, Pseudalmenus chlorinda (chlorinda)

Brush-Footed Butterflies

Meadow Argus
The meadow argus butterfly.

The Nymphalidae family is known as the brush-footed or four-footed butterflies. This is the largest group in Tasmania, with 14 different species.

Wanderer Butterflies

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

Admiral and Lady Butterflies

  • Genus: Junonia
  • Genus: Vanessa
    • Yellow admiral, Vanessa itea
    • Australian painted lady, Vanessa kershawi

Brown Butterflies

Butterfly midflight
The common brown butterfly.
  • Genus: Argynnina
    • Tasmanian brown, Argynnina hobartia
  • Genus: Geitoneura
  • 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

Skipper Butterflies

Anisynta dominula (ento-csiro-au)
The Dominula skipper.
Green Grass-Dart
The yellow-banded dart.

The Hesperiidae family includes the skippers. These butterflies are known for their fast, darting flight. There are 11 species of skippers in Tasmania.

  • 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

More About Butterflies

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List of butterflies of Tasmania Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.