Marbled Xenica - Geitoneura klugii

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Marbled Xenica - Geitoneura klugii

The Marbled Xenica belongs to the Nymphalidae family, which are attractively coloured butterflies of complex brown, orange and black patterns. Another local and very common Nymphalidae species is the Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi (see post under that name in the right hand column), which is similarly coloured, but noticeably much larger and prefers open environments.

Geitoneura klugii is to be found around Esperance in sheltered openings under or between trees and large shrubs, where ground vegetation is low and open. Here the male takes up a territory and flits about approximately a metre (3’) in elevation, landing periodically on the ground or low vegetation for lengthy periods. In this position he rests with his wings closed, enabling his coloration to blend imperceptivity into the leaf-litter. Occasionally he will open his wings as a possible sign to other males that the territory is taken, or to attract passing females.

The females are more restless and when they do land, keep their wings closed for some time, only opening them for a quick flash. They will check out the males territory, with the male keeping close contact and if they don’t like what they see, will move on, often flying higher than a metre to do so.

Males and females are of different sizes with the female larger to over 4 cm (little over 11/2”) wingspan, whilst the male is a little less than 4 cm. Although this does not sound like a big deal, their sizes are visually quite distinct. There are also differences in their wing pattern, the most obvious being the male having an additional solid bar in the centre of the upper wing, which in live (unpinned) specimens runs towards the abdomen. I should add that all my captures are released unharmed.

Australian Painted Lady - Vanessa kershawi

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Australian Painted Lady - Vanessa kershawi

These orange, velvet textured butterflies belong to the Nymphalidae family and are commonly referred to as Nymphs. They range over much of Australia, except the hot/dry interior and are reasonably common around Esperance leisurely fluttering from one flower to another. However they are very difficult to approach, rarely letting you closer than a couple of metres (over 6’).

Their wingspan is close to 5 cm (2”) making them strong fliers, which on warm sunny days are able to move swiftly and acrobatically when required, although they tend to be slower and fly less on overcast days. When the weather is bleak, they will close their wings and perch largely motionless, which unlike their usual colourful presence, now merge remarkably well into surrounding vegetation.

Unlike the heavily forested regions of the Eastern States, the southern portion of Western Australia does not have a particularly large butterfly species list, numbering less than sixty, with most of these occurring around the tall timbered southwest corner of the State and the hills behind Perth. Around Esperance with its lack of large trees, drier and windier conditions, they are even less plentiful, the exception being the Australian Painted Lady and Common Grass-blue butterflies that are quite commonplace and widely distributed.

Zizina labradus - Common Grass-blue Butterfly

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Common Grass-blue Butterfly - Zizina labradus

The Zizina genus has only one species, but belongs to the Lycaenidae family, which according to the Australian Faunal Directory currently has 45 genera and 143 species. Commonly this group of butterflies are called Blues, Coppers and Hairstreaks. Interestingly, many have a strong association with ants that will tend them at the larval stage and protect them from predators.

A paper titled THE ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF ANT ASSOCIATION IN THE LYCAENIDAE (LEPIDOPTERA) by N E Pierce, M F Braby, A Heath, D J. Lohman, J Mathew, D B. Rand and M A. Travassos, goes into some depth about the types of association these butterflies have with ants. It involves the payment by the butterfly larva of a sweet secretion, and/or chemical and sound mimicry. It is far too involved to detail here, but can be read online at http://www.dnp.go.th/FIG/biodiversity/Pierce2002AnnualReview.pdf

According to the excellent paperback called ‘The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia’ by Michael F Braby, the Common Grass-blue Butterfly larvae is attended by a number of ant species although some butterflies in this family have a very specific and complex relationship with a single ant species.

Zizina labradus is a very common butterfly and ranges over much of Australia. Locally it can occur in large numbers, particularly when a heavy nectar producing plant with a powerful honey perfume is in bloom; otherwise it slowly flusters around feeding on whatever takes its fancy. They are relatively easy to approach and will usually continue to siphon up nectar providing you do not make sudden movements.

The easiest way to distinguish this species from other local Blues is by the smooth rounded shape of the hind wings; the others have small projections. Also the markings on the rear of the wings are not as clearly marked as other species that have more sharply defined spots and markings. Size wise it is around 1 cm (3/8”) in head/body length, with a wingspan of 2 cm or ¾” (female is slightly larger).