General Description
Above: forewing black with orange markings and white spots near the edge, hindwing orange with brown base and four blue-centred black spots near the margin. Below: forewing similar to above, hindwing mottled orange and brown. Hindwings without tails. Antennae clubbed. Wingspan up to 5 cm.
Biology
Australian Painted Ladies are one of the first butterflies to emerge in spring (September). The butterflies dart close to the ground. Their caterpillars feed on native daises and introduced Cape Weed.
Distribution
Mainland Australia (excluding Northern Territory and northern Western Australia) and Tasmania.
Habitat
Wide range of habitats, including urban areas.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
This butterfly has orange and black wings featuring white spots on the forewing and a line of four blue-centred eye spots on the hindwing.
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Colours
Brown, White, Orange
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Maximum Size
5 cm
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Habitats
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Diet
Nectar
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, DSE Advisory List: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Plants
Daisies
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Flight Start
August
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Flight End
May
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
(McCoy, 1868)
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Common Name
Australian Painted Lady Butterfly
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Other Names
Blue-spotted Painted Lady
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Subclass
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Superorder
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Order
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Superfamily
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Subfamily
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Genus
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Species Name
kershawi
