#varied eggfly

[ljsbugblog]

the Varied Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina), a very common but exceedingly beautiful butterfly with an incredible amount of phenotypic variation (in females) and sexual dimorphism across its wide distribution.

male Eggflies, such as this individual feeding on our marigolds, have white spots on the dorsal wing surface, surrounded by striking ultraviolet iridescence, which was an unexpected challenge to capture in a photograph! It seemed to only appear vividly enough when at a certain angle. thankfully he was too preoccupied with our flowers to mind me getting plenty of shots.

the underside of the wings are a wonderful pattern of white spots and bands, against lovely hues of brown, black and red. I hope to be able to photograph a female for comparison, before our marigolds finish flowering!

Varied Eggfly, male (Hypolimnas bolina).

[rattyexplores]

Old veteran.

Hypolimnas bolina

28/05/22

[superbnature]

Varied Eggfly by knpandit2003 http://bit.ly/2FHDTMd

[eda11y]

Varied Eggfly by knpandit2003

[vicariousplacebo]

Varied Eggfly (male) by knpandit2003 Source: http://bit.ly/2RSo7E1

[mike13mt]

Varied Eggfly by knpandit2003

[drhoz]

#1588 - Hypolimnas bolina - Common Eggfly

AKA Varied Eggfly. Photo by Joanne Healy.

Seems to be quiter the time of year for these guys - I’ve been asked to ID the black-with-orange-spikes caterpillars three times this week. 

This is a female - the males are black with a blue-fringed egg-shaped patch on wings that give the butterfly its name. Common Eggfly males are quite territorial,  chasing off any butterfly that dares enter the area its decided to gaurd. 

Common Eggfly butterflies are found from Madagascar to New Zealand (where there are known as Blue Moon Butterflies) but in Australia they’re most common in the tropical north and east coast. 

The caterpillars are black in colour with orange-yellow branch-spines - these branching appendages are common to many Nymphalid butterflies.  They feed at night on a variety of foodplants including Love Flower (Pseuderanthemum variabile), Paddys Lucerne (Sida rhombifolia) and Ganges Bluebell (Asystasia gangetica)

[janking-stuff]

Male varied eggfly #hypolimnasbolina #butterfly #butterfliesofinstagram #butterfliesofaustralia #butterflyphotography #lumix #fz300 https://www.instagram.com/jan.king519/p/CYxFr03Bziv/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tealebritstra]

The chrysalis of a Varied Eggfly Butterfly (Hypolimnas bolina) that I found in our patio garden a few months ago. (at Calliope, Queensland)

[rattyexplores]

Through the sands of time.

Hypolimnas bolina, “Varied / Great Eggfly”

17/04/21

[eda11y]

Varied Eggfly (male) by knpandit2003

[vicariousplacebo]

Varied Eggfly by knpandit2003 Source: http://bit.ly/2FHDTMd

[amatuer-entomology]

A couple of male Varied Eggfly butterflies have been stopping by recently as the weather warms up! Might search the local area for host plants~!

[rattyexplores]

✤ Hypolimnas bolina - (Blue Moon / Varied Eggfly)

[drhoz]

#1382 - Hypolimnas bolina nerina - Blue Moon or Varied Eggfly

Photo by Shan-Leigh Tappin, in Atherton, Queensland. 

Native to SE Asia, Australia, and out to Vanuatu. The caterpillars have a wide diet, and hide during the day some distance from the food plant. Adult males are black with a pale oval mark surrounded by purple iridescence, while the females have variable markings in orange and white. As with many other insect species, male embryos are attacked by Wolbachia bacteria, but some populations are developing an immunity.

They’re one of the species bred at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House (home of the intensely useful Australian Lepidoptera galleries) for release at weddings and other functions.