February Outing Report - two properties in the Grantham area, 09 February 2025

Varied Eggfly butterflies,
one female and several males
Photo: B. Weller

 Adapted from the TFNC March 2025 newsletter report of P. Allen.

The Garden of Eden - 19 members and guests set off for the butterfly farm owned and run by Ray and Delphine Archer. A large, fully netted butterfly enclosure was alive with hundreds of butterflies, predominately Common or Varied Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina of both sexes. There was a variety of other species in smaller numbers and a few members were lucky enough to see a female Cairns Birdwing Butterfly Ornithoptera richmondia. The variety of food and nectar plants, including both vegetables, exotic and native plants was in itself fascinating and a few of us were clearly planning to add some to our own gardens. 

Inside the butterfly house
Photo: B. Weller

Ray explained that the huge predominance of the Common Eggfly is deliberate as this is the butterfly most likely to land on both plants (and people) which makes photography easier for the many visitors. A glassed-in room at the end of the enclosure was good for observing the breeding of various butterflies.

We enjoyed our morning tea under shady trees outside where the owners had planted other butterfly attracting plants, like Pigeon Pea Cajanus cajan and Plumbago sp. The latter attracting numerous species while we were there.

We then moved on to the next property at the edge of the Helidon Hills. This 40 acre property included a variety of ecosystems, including open grassy areas, a man-made rainforest area but mostly a steep, hillside leading down to a creek, which was where most of the locally endemic plants were found.

Autumn Cluster Moth
Dichomeris capnites
Photo: M. Simmons

As usual the Natters scattered, some down to the creek while several members were fully occupied exploring the small but fascinating rainforest area that the owners had created. With two ponds and a variety of plant species this area was alive with interesting creatures including numerous dragonflies and  damselflies. An intriguing moth which had settled in huge numbers on some leaves of a tree was later identified as the Autumn Cluster Moth, Dichomeris capnites.

Species list for the day, compiled from members' observations:

Butterflies: Chequered Swallowtail, Large Grass Yellow, Small Grass Yellow, Common Eggfly, Lemon Migrant, Caper White, Common Crow, Brown Soldier, Black Margined Yellow, Monarch, Australian Wanderer, White Banded Plane, Small Green Banded Blue, Plumbago Blue, Tailed Emperor, Orchard Swallowtail, Richmond Birdwing.

Moths: Joseph's Coat Moth, Autumn Cluster Moth.

Spiders: Ant eating Jumping Spider, St Andrew's Cross Spider, Christmas Jewel Spider, Giant Golden Orb Weaver, Nephilidae pilipes; Tent Spider or Tent-web Spider, Cyrtophora moluccensis.

Birds: Straw necked Ibis, Brown-cuckoo Dove, Pale-headed Rosella, Striated Pardalote, Brown Honeyeater, Grey Shrike-thrush, Willie Wagtail, Spangled Drongo, Peaceful Dove.

Flora: White Cedar, Meila azedarach; Helidon Hills White Mahogany, Eucalyptus helidonica; Acacia podalyriifolia; Acacia hispidula; Acacia penninervis; Bailey's Stringybark, Eucalyptus baileyana; Soap Tree, Alphitonia excelsa; Native Coffee Bush, Breynia oblongifolia; Yellow Buttons, Chrysocephalum apiculatum; Moreton Bay Ash, Eucalyptus tessellaris; Dogwood, Jacksonia scoparia; Poison Peach, Trema tomentosa; Barbed wire Grass, Cymbopogon refractus; Kangaroo Grass, Themeda triandra; a Geebung, Persoonia sp.; Barbed wire vine, Smilax australis; Cupid’s Lipstick (?); Long leaved Bitter pea, Daviesia wyattiana.