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Butterflies and Caterpillars in Tropical Queensland.
In Australia there is an estimated 22000 Lepidoptera, an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths
of which 400 of these species are butterflies, in tropical Queensland 60 percent of these butterfly species may be observed. Various butterfly species are about during the daylight hours, while moths generally become more active at night. Moths are by far the most numerous of the Lepidoptera and the wet tropics is home to a number of brightly colored and earthy toned species of varying shape and size.
Click here to go to Moths .
Latest new butterfly and caterpillar sightings below.
In Australia there is an estimated 22000 Lepidoptera, an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths
of which 400 of these species are butterflies, in tropical Queensland 60 percent of these butterfly species may be observed. Various butterfly species are about during the daylight hours, while moths generally become more active at night. Moths are by far the most numerous of the Lepidoptera and the wet tropics is home to a number of brightly colored and earthy toned species of varying shape and size.
Click here to go to Moths .
Latest new butterfly and caterpillar sightings below.
Butterflies are cold blooded which means they cannot regulate their own body temperature so if the butterflies are either too cold or too warm, they are unable to fly. Butterflies can warm up in the sun with their wings out to absorb more heat and they can also find shaded areas in the heat to cool down.
During the cooler months here, butterflies are generally far less active.
During the cooler months here, butterflies are generally far less active.
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The Butterfly and Moth lifecycle occurs in four stages. Breeding adults lay eggs which hatch caterpillars that feed on plants specific to that species and once ready to pupate, create a cocoon which the caterpillar stays within whilst going through a stage of metamorphosis. When ready the new butterfly or moth will escape the cocoon, dry its wings and then be flight ready. Inset: Melantis leda, Evening Brown, Summer form. |
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Butterfly and moth species are being added regularly as sighted but of course these are no-where near a complete list of which species are in the region, and at best, show a small but interesting sample.
B 38 C 43- 05/05
B 38 C 43- 05/05
CATERPILLARS.
Butterflies and moths lay eggs which hatch out larvae .... caterpillars feed on plants growing to full size prepared for the next stage of life inside a pupa or cocoon. During this varying time stage, the caterpillar undergoes a metamorphosis concluding with a winged adult which must escape the casing to dry its wings. And so starts the next chapter of life as a flying creature to find a mate and laying the next generation of eggs.
Species observed so far in gallery below.
Butterflies and moths lay eggs which hatch out larvae .... caterpillars feed on plants growing to full size prepared for the next stage of life inside a pupa or cocoon. During this varying time stage, the caterpillar undergoes a metamorphosis concluding with a winged adult which must escape the casing to dry its wings. And so starts the next chapter of life as a flying creature to find a mate and laying the next generation of eggs.
Species observed so far in gallery below.
Butterfly and Moth predators.
While common predators of butterflies and moths such as birds, small animals, reptiles and other insects are more obvious there is also a number of species of parasites and parasitoid flys and wasps which require one of the lifecycle stages of some butterfly or moth species as a host, in particular the caterpillar stage, this cycle begins after male and female adults mate and the female wasp lays numerous eggs within a host caterpillar with its ‘ovipositor’.
Caterpillars and parasatoids.
With some parasitoids species, egg hatching, larvae development and pupation occurs entirely within their host, killing the host, however other species also utilise the live caterpillar in a truly bizarre fashion such as some of the species of parasitoid wasp which locate caterpillars, lay numerous eggs inside the caterpillar that hatch and the larvae feed on the caterpillar’s body fluids. When they are fully developed, they cut and chew through the caterpillar’s skin, attach themselves to a close by plant part and spin a cocoon.
Amazingly the caterpillar, still alive, behaves as though controlled by the cocooned larvae, however it has been found that one or two of the wasp larvae remain behind in the caterpillar, incapacitating it to the point where it stops normal behaviour and instead stands arched over guarding the cocoons without moving away or feeding until the adult wasps hatch after which time the caterpillar will die.
In pic. Geometrid moth species Pingasa chlora, guarding parasitoid wasp cocoons until hatched.
While common predators of butterflies and moths such as birds, small animals, reptiles and other insects are more obvious there is also a number of species of parasites and parasitoid flys and wasps which require one of the lifecycle stages of some butterfly or moth species as a host, in particular the caterpillar stage, this cycle begins after male and female adults mate and the female wasp lays numerous eggs within a host caterpillar with its ‘ovipositor’.
Caterpillars and parasatoids.
With some parasitoids species, egg hatching, larvae development and pupation occurs entirely within their host, killing the host, however other species also utilise the live caterpillar in a truly bizarre fashion such as some of the species of parasitoid wasp which locate caterpillars, lay numerous eggs inside the caterpillar that hatch and the larvae feed on the caterpillar’s body fluids. When they are fully developed, they cut and chew through the caterpillar’s skin, attach themselves to a close by plant part and spin a cocoon.
Amazingly the caterpillar, still alive, behaves as though controlled by the cocooned larvae, however it has been found that one or two of the wasp larvae remain behind in the caterpillar, incapacitating it to the point where it stops normal behaviour and instead stands arched over guarding the cocoons without moving away or feeding until the adult wasps hatch after which time the caterpillar will die.
In pic. Geometrid moth species Pingasa chlora, guarding parasitoid wasp cocoons until hatched.
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Parasatoid wasps emerge from the cocoon and are ready for flight shortly afterward where they will find a breeding age wasp of the opposite sex, a host caterpillar and the process repeats.
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Some species of parasatoid fly attack by directly attaching eggs onto the host caterpillar, usually on or just behind the head. The eggs are glued onto the host and do not readily dislodge. When the egg hatches, the larva burrows through the skin of the host and feeds internally.
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Geometrid moth species Pingasa chlora with parasatoid fly eggs on head.
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It's a tough life for a caterpillar facing many obstacles in life including the possibility of spider attacks, ant assaults and even worse, something creepy laying eggs on you which hatch and then chew through your skin to eat your body contents :/ ....while your alive. It's the stuff of nightmares. |
While care is taken to accurately ID creatures on this website, some may be incorrectly labelled or may not have an ID.
Please check ID with another source for verification.
Please check ID with another source for verification.