Common Brown Butterfly
Western Brown Butterfly
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CC By
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Heteronympha
- Species
- merope
- Subfamily
- Satyrinae
- Family
- Nymphalidae
- Super Family
- Papilionoidea
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 5.6 cm - 6.5 cm
Introduction
The Common Brown Butterfly is active in spring and summer when there is sunshine and plenty of flowers to feed on.
© Bruce Hulbert
Habitat
The Common Brown Butterfly lives in urban areas, forests and woodlands.
Distribution
The Common Brown Butterfly is found in south-eastern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and Tasmania.
Seasonality
The Common Brown Butterfly is active in spring and summer when there is sunshine and plenty of flowers to feed on.
Life history cycle
Mating in the Common Brown Butterfly occurs during October or November and the males die shortly after. Females live for three months or more, waiting for the heat of summer to pass and the grass to grow before laying their eggs in early March. They lay their eggs directly onto several introduced and native grass species to ensure an immediate food supply when the larvae emerge.
