Belair National Park Butterflies and MothsHeteronympha merope (Common Brown) Nemophora laurella

Butterflies, moths, and skippers belong to the order Lepidoptera and are some of the most conspicuous and familiar insects. For many people, the butterflies are seen more frequently as they flutter around from flower to flower, which can give the mistaken impression that there are more butterflies species then moths. This is far from fact, as there are just over 400 species of butterflies, whilst in comparison there are far more moth species, with an estimated number of more then 10,000 Australian species of moths.

Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Arhodia lasiocamparia (Pink Arhodia), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Arhodia lasiocamparia (Pink Arhodia), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Eucyclodes buprestaria, Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Eucyclodes buprestaria, Belair SA © Marianne Broug

Check out our main section on Fauna | Insects | Moths | Moths Index

This section is a work in progress…


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Unranked: Ditrysia
  • Suborder:
    • Aglossata
    • Glossata
    • Zeugloptera
  • Family:
    • Arctiidae
    • Autostichidae Le Marchand , 1947
    • Bedelliidae Meyrick , 1880
    • Cecidosidae Brethes , 1916
    • Ctenuchidae
    • Lycaenidae
    • Lymantriidae
    • Mnesarchaeidae Eyer , 1924
    • Praydidae Moriuti , 1977
    • Pterolonchidae Meyrick , 1918
    • Stathmopodidae Janse , 1917
    • Thyatiridae
    • Xyloryctidae Meyrick , 1890
  • Genus:
    • Cadmogenes
    • Hesperia Fabricius , 1793
    • Roeslerstammiidae
    • Thectophila Meyrick , 1927
    • Titanomis

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Marianne Broug

Belair National Park Butterflies and MothsHeteronympha merope (Common Brown) Nemophora laurella

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