Family: Nymphalidae Lives: Eastern Queensland from Brisbane to Cape York Common around creeks and tracks, this orange and brown butterfl y is about 5cm across. The caterpillars have spikes and a yellow head. Look underneath leaves for the beautiful green pupa, which has four pairs of slender spines riding from silver bases. … [Read more...]
Lacewing butterfly – Cethosia sp.
April 26, 2012 By
Family: Nymphalidae Lives: In lowland rainforest, red lacewing from Cape York to Townsville, orange lacewing in the Northern Territory The Far North’s red lacewing is the only red butterfly in Australia, although there is a very similar orange lacewing in the Northern Territory that can be seen at Far Northern butterfly farms. The caterpillar has black and yellow bands. … [Read more...]
Australian Crow butterfly – Euploea core
April 24, 2012 By
Family: Nymphalidae Lives: Throughout northern and eastern Australia with pockets in Central and South Australia One of the milkweed butterflies, they often congregate in large numbers in gullies and creeks. The pupa is a shiny metallic gold or silver, changing to a transparent black and white before hatching. Caterpillars feed on the rubber vine. … [Read more...]
Cotton Harlequin Bug – Tectocoris diophthalmus
April 23, 2012 By
Size: Length 20mm Lives: Eastern Australia This is a type of jewel bug, of which there are more than 1200 species throughout Australia. These bugs like to suck the sap from hibiscus species, causing the fl ower buds to drop. Female harlequins are mostly orange with some blue, while the males are mostly blue with red patches. … [Read more...]
Cruiser butterfly – Vindula arsinoe
April 21, 2012 By
Family: Nymphalidae Lives: Lowland forest from Cape York to Townsville The smaller male is brightly coloured while the female has more brown and white markings on the upper wings. Look for them sipping at Lantana flowers beside the road. Caterpillars feed on native passion vine and their pupa looks like a dead twisted leaf. … [Read more...]
Gumleaf Katydid – Torbia viridissima
April 20, 2012 By
Size: Length to 60mm Lives: Widespread throughout Australia The Gumleaf Katydid eat and resemble a gum leaf, with the wings having the colour and vein pattern of a leaf. They are well camoufl aged in plants with similar leaf shape and colour. Some adults have brown markings on the legs. They have a very small head in relation to their body. … [Read more...]
Common Eggfly butterfly – Hypolimnas bolina
April 19, 2012 By
Family: Nymphalidae Lives: Throughout northern, central and eastern Australia Often seen flitting around the garden, the males have more blue on their upper wings, while the females sometimes have an orange patch. Males may perch on a leaf to defend their territory from passing butterflies and other insects. Common in urban areas. … [Read more...]
Giant Rainforest Mantis – Hierodula majuscula
April 18, 2012 By
Size: Length to 70mm Lives: Northeastern Australia Mantids are ancient insects believed to pre-date cockroaches. Their heads swivel 180 degrees and have large, bulging eyes. As nymphs, these mantis range in colour from red-brown to bright green, but upon maturity they always turn a rich leaf-green colour. … [Read more...]
Union Jack butterfly – Delias mysis
April 17, 2012 By
Family: Pieridae Lives: Upland rainforest of northern Queensland and northwest Australia The upper side of their wings are almost all white, with the female having more black among the brilliant red and yellow under their wings. Eggs are laid on the mistletoe plant and the caterpillars feed in rows. … [Read more...]
Spiny Leaf Insect – Extatosoma tiaratum
April 16, 2012 By
Size: Length to 14cm (female) Lives: North Queensland Female spiny leaf insects are larger and live longer than the males, surviving for up to 18 months while males only live for 6-8 months. They lay thousands of eggs, flicking them on to the ground below their perch where they can be taken into ant nests for up to three years. … [Read more...]
