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Don | all galleries >> # north Australian butterflies # >> # more butterflies # > how many species?
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11-Mar-2025

how many species?

At a glance, you might say two, with closer examination three; in fact there are four.

* the small grey species is Black-spotted Grass-blue (Famegana nisa [alsulus], Lycaenidae)
* the individual at front centre is a Large Grass-yellow (Eurema hecaba, Pieridae)
* the two at top left are Macleays Grass-yellows (Eurema herla, Pieridae), wet season morphs
* the remaining three are Lined Grass-yellows (Eurema laeta, Pieridae), wet season morphs

Photograph taken at a puddling site in Undara Volcanic National Park, north Queensland.
In their dry season morphs, Macleays and Lined Grass-yellows are more readily distinguishable.


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Claude Gagnon26-Mar-2025 23:27
I guessed right :)) ....but not for the good reasons! Beautiful and interesting :))
hayl19-Mar-2025 18:38
Terrific photo of this group and thanks for all the info.
Helen Betts19-Mar-2025 00:20
What a great shot this diverse group.
Missed Opportunities18-Mar-2025 23:56
Nice 'puddling' group of pretty butterflies!
globalgadabout18-Mar-2025 22:06
don't we all benefit from a good drink...well done to articulate the subtle differences between species, as they all actually look like guitar picks with legs..
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