New species and subspecies. It’s been a long time since I updated this website, largely because the COVID-19 lockdowns prevented me from getting out at all during the autumn. Things are a lot less restricted now in NSW, but it’s winter so there isn’t much on the wing. Whilst I haven’t been out butterflying, I …
The Silky Hairstreak (Pseudalmenus chlorinda) is only a small butterfly, with a wingspan under 3cm, but its dark-chocolate wings with bright orange bands, complete with silvery-grey underside, make it one of Australia’s most gorgeous species. However, after recent taxonomic research it is now two of Australia’s most gorgeous species… Until recently, P. chlorinda had 6 …
The Southern Pearl-white (Elodina angulipennis) is the only member of its genus which can be found reliably in Sydney, owing to the fact that it breeds in the Royal Botanic Gardens on Sydney Harbour. Its close relatives E. padusa (Narrow-winged Pearl-white) and E. parthia (Striated Pearl-white) do turn up around Sydney but don’t appear to …
