These butterflies may visit your garden

These butterflies are either are native species that feed on plants that are not recorded as growing on the Adelaide plains or Mt.Lofty Ranges or introduced species. One species which has adapted to an introduced weed is the Australian or Yellow Admiral whose caterpillars feed on plants from the nettle family and they can be seen happily munching on the introduced stinging nettle in backyard gardens. The indigenous alternative is Parietaria debilis or shade pellitory so why not try planting this plant.

We advocate the planting of indigenous plants wherever possible, however, man has changed the landscape so much since settlement in many cases the native caterpillar food plant is no longer available so the caterpillars have adapted to using introduced species such as introduced grasses and they quite like them!

For this reason we recommend leaving some unmown grass in your back yard and gradually replace the introduced caterpillar host plants with native plants such as native grasses.

There is one caterpillar however that does not have a native host plant and that is the Wanderer butterfly. It’s caterpillars only feed on the introduced milkweed or swan plant. As this is considered a weed in reserves we suggest removing the seed heads so that the plant does not set seed. In that way the caterpillars are happy and we continue to have this lovely butterfly visit our gardens. Look at the case for and against the Wanderer at the SA Museum website.

Australian Admiral
Vanessa itea

A common butterfly; caterpillars eat leaves from the nettle family and have adapted to the foreign stinging nettle.

Caper white
Belenois java teutonia

Annually seen migrating (often in very large numbers) from northern Australia in November to December.

Chequered swallowtail
Papilio demoleus

A migratory butterfly that is common and widespread in the north, but now only an occasional visitor to Adelaide.

Dainty Swallowtail
Papilio anactus

The caterpillars feed on native and introduced Citrus plants including grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin and oranges.

Lesser Wanderer
Danaus petilia

This widespread butterfly is generally uncommon in Adelaide. In the Adelaide area the caterpillars feed on introduced milkweeds.

Orange Palm-dart
Cephrenes augiades sperthias

Accidentally introduced (1990) by the nursery trade, and now likely to be found in most parts of suburban Adelaide on the plains.

Small Grass Yellow
Eurema smilax

A small to medium sized migratory species from northern pastoral areas, often seen flying through Adelaide during spring.

Tailed Emperor
Polyura sempronius

Not common. This butterfly is a recent (1973) immigrant from the eastern states. Caterpillars feed on eastern states trees such as Kurrajong.

Wanderer
Danaus plexippus

Immigrated to Adelaide in 1875 from the eastern states. Caterpillars are known to only feed on the introduced Milkweeds.

See also

Butterfly nectar plants of the Adelaide region
Plants information