Arguably, the Samford district’s most frequently encountered brown-and-white butterfly is the Common Crow (Euploea corinna), which has a wingspan of about 80mm. It is found in rainforest, parks and gardens from northern WA all the way to Victoria. The wide distribution reflects its huge range of host plants in the Dogbane family (Apocynaceae), including Hoyas, Milk Vines (Marsdenia), Silkpods (Parsonsia) and Currant Bush (Carissa ovata), as well as some figs and the introduced oleander. The adults take nectar from a variety of flowers and the males extract toxic alkaloids from plants such as Rattlepods (Crotalaria) and Silkpods. For most of the year, these butterflies tend to have a slow flight just a few metres above the ground, but fly higher to reach their over-wintering colonies in sheltered gorges or in mangroves. The larva, which grows to 60mm, is orange with black transverse bands edged with white. It has four pairs of fleshy filaments (‘horns’). The pupa to about 18mm is a stunning silver or gold colour, usually hanging below a leaf.
Common Crow
The Common Aeroplane (Phaedyma shepherdi) is also brown and white, but it is slightly smaller with a wingspan of around 60mm. It has broader white markings on the hindwing, which fuse to form a band, hence the alternative name White-banded Aeroplane. It inhabits rainforest, gardens and parklands and is found from Cape York to central NSW. It has a characteristic ‘flap-and glide’ flight pattern and may settle with its wings open or closed. It also uses a wide range of host plants, ranging from Native Elm (Aphananthe philippinensis), Koda (Ehretia acuminata) and all species of Brachychiton. The grey-green larvae are difficult to find because they hide under chewed leaves they have webbed together. The pupa is brown, again usually hanging below a leaf.
Common Aeroplane
Watch out also for the more infrequent Purple Crow (Euploea tulliosus), which shimmers with a purple iridescence in sunlight.
Why don’t you let us know about any interesting butterfly sightings? E: editor@villagepump.org.au
Peter Storer