BUTTERFLIES IN WETLANDS OF KAKADU NATIONAL PARK, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Butterflies can be found invertebrates play in helping us to identify and in various habitats preserve critical habitats under threat. Butterflies can throughout Kakadu be used as indicators for monitoring climate change National Park, from or pollution, or identified as rare or threatened KAKADU BUTTERFLIES shady, tranquil vine species themselves needing conservation. We thickets to the diverse anticipate that further analysis of invertebrate savanna woodland and biodiversity in Kakadu’s wetland habitats will vast, spectacular illustrate the importance of these animals and their wetlands. At certain potential as indicators of environmental change. times of the year some However, first we need further information on the species congregate in ecology and habitat preferences of such species. This great numbers in cool, analysis of butterflies is an example of this effort – an Photo by Caroline Camilleri monsoon rainforest effort that extends across the landscape and habitats pockets. Others frequent the shady creeks and springs of the Kakadu region. The Environmental Research This publication is dedicated to Murrumbur that create deep gorges in the escarpment and flow Institute of the Supervising Scientist is contributing clan member Mick Alderson. Mick inspired us out into the savanna woodland. Some butterflies to this effort in collaboration with local people and prefer to inhabit paperbark forests, mangrove swamps land managers. to produce this guide by suggesting a pamphlet and estuaries along the coast. The preference of butterflies for particular habitats about butterflies. Although he will never see There are about 100 species of butterflies is often closely linked to the adult or larval food this finished product, we trust that it will be inhabiting Kakadu. Here we describe 20 of the source. Butterflies undergo a complete of interest to his family, friends, and to those eriss carries out scientific research for the species most likely to be seen in wetlands and riverine metamorphosis in their lifecycle, from egg through to who visit Kakadu. We gratefully acknowledge protection of people and the environment in habitats throughout the Park. We have recorded their larva (caterpillar), pupa and adult. Eggs are usually scientific and common names and the most likely laid on the undersurface of leaves of the larval food places that are highly valued by Dr Jenny Davis who initiated the first talks habitat in which each species can be found. We have plant, such as a wetland grass, vine or herb. Once the Australian community. with Mick. done this in response to a request from local hatched, the caterpillar’s main aim is to eat and grow. Aboriginal representatives, who are keen to know Some caterpillars are spectacularly marked with large Contact Officers more about the ecology of the plants and animals in fleshy spines. The next stage of development is the Kakadu. It is hoped that the scientific information on pupa, which does not feed, and where the Caroline Camilleri Ph +61 (0)8 8979 9711 the ecology of such species will complement the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly occurs. e-mail: [email protected] existing knowledge of local people and lead to a When the adult butterfly emerges from its silken greater appreciation of the biodiversity of the Park, cocoon, it begins the cycle once more by reproducing Abbie Spiers Ph +61 (0)8 89829100 and in particular the wetland and riverine habitats. and continuing dispersal of the species. References e-mail: [email protected] Butterflies come in many sizes and colours, The caterpillar of an Oleander butterfly. These ‘milkweed butterflies’ Environmental Research Institute breed in monsoon forest along river courses and in moist gullies and Braby MF 2000. Butterflies of Australia: some bold and bright, gorges. Photo by Caroline Camilleri. Below: Photo by Michael Saynor. of the Supervising Scientist Their identification, biology and distribution. others perfectly Locked Bag 2 Jabiru NT 0886 Vol 1 & 2, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. camouflaged. They are commonly referred to as Valentine P 1991. Australian tropical butterflies. ‘insects of the sun’ with Frith & Frith Books, Malanda Qld. their eyecatching colours and delicate charisma. As Caroline Camilleri & Abbie Spiers our awareness of our environment increases, we © eriss, May 2002 better understand the role they and other 41961 NTUniprint 5.02 NJ Common name: Common Eggfly Family: Nymphalidae — nymphs Common name: Blue-banded Eggfly Common name: Orange Lacewing Scientific name: Hypolimnas bolina Common name: Evening Brown Family: Nymphalidae — nymphs Common name: Blue Tiger Family: Nymphalidae — passion-vine Preferred habitat: Irrigated urban Family: Nymphalidae — browns Scientific name: Hypolimnas alimena Family: Nymphalidae — milkweed butterflies areas, damp shady areas or moist Scientific name: Melanitis leda Preferred habitat: Rainforest and Common name: Dingy Ring/Dusky Knight butterflies Scientific name: Cethosia penthesilea creek banks associated with larval Preferred habitat: Irrigated urban gardens lowland rainforest where larval food Family: Nymphalidae — browns Scientific name: Tirumala hamata Preferred habitat: Vine thickets, food plants associated with larval food plants such as grasses plant grows as a herb Scientific name: Ypthima arctous Preferred habitat: Wetlands, along creeks often along streams associated with Preferred habitat: Coastal woodlands and coast during the dry season larval food plants Browns, Nymphs, Danaines Common name: Cedarbush Brown Common name: Oleander Butterfly Family: Nymphalidae — browns Common name: Lesser Wanderer Family: Nymphalidae — milkweed butterflies Scientific name: Mycalesis sirius Family: Nymphalidae — milkweed Common name: Glasswing Scientific name: Euploea core corinna sirius Scientific name: Danaus chrysippus Common name: Meadow Argus Family: Nymphalidae — glasswings Preferred habitat: Irrigated urban areas, open forest and Common name: Black and White Tiger, Swamp Tiger Preferred habitat: Wetlands Preferred habitat: Open country, Family: Nymphalidae — nymphs Scientific name: Acraea andromacha andromacha woodlands in coastal habitats associated with larval food Family: Nymphalidae — milkweed butterflies including lowland coastal paperbark including coastal and sub-coastal Scientific name: Junonia villida calybe Preferred habitat: Savanna woodland and moist plants. Breeds in areas of monsoon forest along river Scientific name: Danaus affinis affinis forests associated with food plants habitats Preferred habitat: Savanna woodland areas associated with larval food plant, courses and in moist gullies and gorges. Preferred habitat: Coastal wetlands including estuaries and along brackish creeks and mangrove swamps native passion vine associated with larval food plants Skippers, Awls and Darts Common name: Skipper Family: Hesperiidae — skippers, awls, darts Preferred habitat: Irrigated urban areas Common name: Common Grass Yellow Common name: Line Grass Yellow Family: Pieridae — yellows Family: Pieridae — yellows Common name: Pale Green Triangle Scientific name: Eurema hecabe Scientific name: Eurema laeta Family: Papilionidae — swallowtails Preferred habitat: Savanna woodland and irrigated Preferred habitat: Tropical grasslands and Scientific name: Graphium eurypylus urban areas associated with larval food plants woodlands where food plant grows as a herb Preferred habitat: Wetlands along edges of vine thickets and such as herbs monsoon forest, associated with fruit-bearing food plants Whites and Yellows Swallowtails Blues Common name: Spotted Opal Common name: Big Greasy Common name: Lemon Migrant Family: Lycaenidae — blues Family: Papilionidae — swallowtails Family: Pieridae — whites Scientific name: Nesolycaena uramelia Scientific name: Cressida cressida Scientific name: Catopsilia pomona Preferred habitat: Woodland, outcrops and Preferred habitat: Tropical coastal areas and Preferred habitat: Irrigated urban areas gorges associated with larval food plant savanna woodland associated with larval food associated with larval food plant plants that grow as vines.