Butterflies of
Australia
Common Brown
Heteronympha
merope
FABRICIUS, 1775
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
SATYRINAE
Tribe - SATYRINI
subtribe - HYPOCYSTINA
Heteronympha merope male,
Fitzroy Falls, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
© David Fischer
Introduction
The genus
Heteronympha comprises of 7 species, all of which are endemic to
Australia.
Heteronympha merope is the commonest and most widely distributed member
of the genus, being found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South
Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.
Habitats
This species is found in grassland / woodland mosaics, scrubby
grassland, forest clearings, gardens, parks and other open grassy habitats. It
is commonest in hilly country between about 500-800m in altitude, but can be
found anywhere from sea level to about 1500m.
Heteronympha merope female,
Fitzroy Falls, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
© David Fischer
Lifecycle
The eggs are ovoid, shiny, and cream in colour. The female does not settle to
glue her eggs onto anything. Instead she drops them at random as she flies over
grasses. She usually chooses areas close to trees, bushes or fences, presumably
because these areas tend to escape the attention of grazing animals that would
inadvertently devour the resulting larvae.
The larva lacks head horns. It
can be either green or brown, with dark dorsal and lateral markings. It feeds at
dusk and during the early evening on a range of grasses including
Brachypodium, Poa,
Cynodon, Ehrharta, Microlaena and
Themeda ( Poaceae ).
The pupa is formed loose on the
surface of the ground, often at the base of trees or bushes.
Adult behaviour
The flight is normally slow, but if the butterfly is alarmed
it adopts a rapid, erratic, zigzag flight pattern that serves to confuse
insectivorous birds.
The butterflies rest among dead leaf litter, and thermo-regulate by tilting
their wings to maximise or minimise exposure to the sun, depending on ambient
temperatures. In very hot weather they rest on shady overhanging banks, or
sometimes in caves.
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