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Northern brown argus videos, photos and facts - Aricia artaxerxes | Arkive

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Northern brown argus videos, photos and facts - Aricia artaxerxes | Arkive

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invertebrates - terrestrial and freshwater

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Northern brown argus videos, photos and facts - Aricia artaxerxes | Arkive

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This small butterfly is dark brown in colour with orange crescents towards the edge of the wings, those on the forewings are absent or very small, and the underside is pale. In Britain there is a...

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Red Admiral Butterflies, Caterpillars, Chrysalis Photos : Gardens With Wings

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Red Admiral Butterflies, Caterpillars, Chrysalis Photos : Gardens With Wings

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Red Admiral Butterflies, Caterpillars, Chrysalis Photos : Gardens With Wings

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Fears for blue Ulysses butterfly as numbers mysteriously dwindle - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

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Fears for blue Ulysses butterfly as numbers mysteriously dwindle - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

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Updated November 10, 2016 12:43:21

There are concerns for the future of the electric blue Ulysses butterfly in far north Queensland, with the country's biggest breeder saying they have not been able to breed the species in nearly a year.

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary at Kuranda, west of Cairns, raised the alarm after months of failing to successfully breed the Ulysses butterfly, despite an earlier 90 per cent success rate.

It said the species was also disappearing from the wild.

The sanctuary does not have a single Ulysses butterfly in their enclosure, but was still successfully breeding dozens of other butterfly species.

Scientists have to find and harvest Ulysses eggs in the wild to get more specimens for the lab to do further research.

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary general manager Mel Nikolich said there was no-one in Australia that could breed Ulysses butterflies at the moment.

"Internationally we've found out that no-one else has got them overseas that we know of at the moment either," he said.

"They [Ulysses] seem quite healthy at first and then they just shrivel up and die.

"It's very heartbreaking for the lab staff to be feeding caterpillars and to watch that happen."

Parasites may be reason for decline

However, entomologist Jack Hasenpush said predictions the butterfly was headed for extinction were premature.

He said the decline could be due to parasites or this year's failed wet season.

"We'll get a better idea of numbers during the season, but if we don't get a good wet season again like the last couple of years, that could have an effect as well," he said.

"Plants could be putting out toxins as well that are affecting the different butterflies."

He said peaks and troughs in breeding cycles were normal.

"It could be part of a natural cycle - butterflies have good seasons, they breed up into huge numbers, parasites and viruses can affect them," he said.

"When things are in high numbers they will take their toll on things, and when there's less butterflies around, these parasites will go down in numbers allowing butterflies to peak again."

Scientists to test caterpillars

Researchers from James Cook University in far north Queensland are going to begin testing Ulysses caterpillars under different climatic conditions in their laboratory in Cairns and also hope to determine how many are left in the wild.

JCU researcher Dr Tobin Northfield said the insects have had difficulties in the past.

"But it's always recovered and it hasn't been that big of an issue," he said.

"It's a bit concerning that now they're having this serious issue - it sounds like something we've really got to get on top of."

The sanctuary also wants residents to do their part by keeping an eye out for the brilliant blue species and reporting back on their location.

Topics: entomology, science-and-technology, animals, human-interest, research, animal-science, kuranda-4881, qld, cairns-4870

First posted November 10, 2016 12:15:00

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Fears for blue Ulysses butterfly as numbers mysteriously dwindle

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Updated November 10, 2016 12:43:21 There are concerns for the future of the electric blue Ulysses butterfly in far north Queensland, with the country's biggest breeder saying they have not been able to breed the species in nearly a year.

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Zebra Longwing Butterfly - Heliconius charitonius - NatureWorks

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Zebra Longwing Butterfly - Heliconius charitonius - NatureWorks

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zebra longwing butterfly - heliconius charitonius

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Zebra Longwing Butterfly - Heliconius charitonius - NatureWorks

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The zebra longwing butterfly has long, narrow wings. Its wings are black with light yellow zebra-like stripes. It has long black antennae. - NatureWorks

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UK Butterflies - Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus

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UK Butterflies - Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus

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The larva is extremely well camouflaged, and is usually a plain green colour, although some larvae may also have areas that are light pink. The larva is most-easily found by looking for damage to the developing flower buds, where it may usually be found attached to a neighbouring bud. The larva bores a hole in the side of the flower bud and scoops out the content, leaving a succession of empty flower buds, each with an access hole, in its wake. The larva has 4 instars in total.

The primary larval foodplants are Holly (Ilex spp.) and Ivy (Hedera spp.). brambles (Rubus spp.), buckthorns (Frangula alnus and Rhamnus cathartica), Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), Gorse (Ulex europeaus), snowberries (Symphoricarpos spp.) and Spindle (Euonymus europaeus) are also used.

1st Instar

"The larva emerges by eating away the whole of the sunken portion of the crown of the egg. Directly after emerging, the larva is only 0.90 mm. long. The entire colour is very pale ochreous, with a greenish-grey tinge. The first segment is flattened and projects over the head. The posterior segments are rather compressed, all the others are humped dorsally with the segmental divisions deeply cut; along the dorsal surface is a series of long glassy white hairs, curving backwards, situated in pairs on each segment; the base of each forms a short tubercle; close below is a shorter hair directed backwards and laterally, forming a sub-dorsal series; and below this, in the centre of the segment, is a pale olive lenticle. Between this and the spiracle are two short hairs curving a little downwards. There are two rows of lateral hairs. The first sub-spiracular series is composed of three on each segment, the central one being much the longest. They form a projecting lateral fringe. The second series consists of shorter hairs situated lower down at the base of the claspers. The anterior segment bears a number of hairs, all curving forwards, and those on the anal segment curve backwards. All the hairs are finely serrated. The head is shining bronze-black; while crawling it is protruded, and partly withdrawn while resting. The legs and claspers are the same colour as the body. The young larva will readily feed on the very young leaves of holly, eating small holes in the upper cuticle." - Frohawk (1924)

2nd Instar

"The first moult on June 1st, 1900, remaining in the first stage seven days. It is then 2 mm. long while crawling. The anterior and posterior segments are flattened, rounded and projecting, covering the head while at rest, as well as the anal claspers. The dorsal surface is elevated; sides flattened and sloping to the lateral ridge; the under surface is also flat. The segmental divisions are deeply defined. The colour of the body is pale green and thickly covered with rather long white hairs, all curving backwards, excepting on the anterior segment, where they all project forwards; all the hairs have curiously formed bases, composed of a short tubercle, bearing a number of short, curved, black, claw-like spines, giving the body a longitudinally striped appearance. The head is shining black. The larva in the first stage feed on the buds and young tender leaves, perforating the latter with small holes. The cast skin is eaten after the first moult. Shortly before the second moult it measures 3 mm. long, of a uniformly bright light yellow-green with a paler lateral line. When at rest the head is quite hidden by the projecting overlapping anterior segment; the under surface is so much flattened that the legs and claspers are entirely hidden by the projecting lateral ridge. The sides and medio-dorsal surface are slightly concave." - Frohawk (1924)

3rd Instar

"After the second moult and one day before third moult, fourteen days old, it measures 5.4 mm. long. In form and structure it is much the same as the previous stage. There are three forms of colouring: Form 1: The ground colour is a clear green with dull pinkish-purple markings, the sub-dorsal and lateral lines whitish. Form 2: Ground colour pale greenish-buff with all the markings clearer, of a richer rose colour; the sub-dorsal and lateral lines cream-yellow. The first segment is rounded and sloping to the projecting edge. While at rest the larva lies flat upon the surface of the food plant. The segments are humped dorsally with a sunken medio-dorsal line of dull rose colour, edged on either side by a pale yellowish line, which is bordered below by a rose-coloured band, composed of a triangular mark on each segment; below and separated by the greenish-buff ground colour is a short oblique dull rose mark on each segment, forming a longitudinal band, and below this is a broader spiracular band of similar hue bordering on the lateral yellowish line; the ventral surface is dull pinkish. The whole of the body is clothed with fine hairs, varying in length. The segmental divisions are deeply incised above, giving additional height to the humps on the segments. On the tenth segment the honey-gland shows as a scar. It is not visible in the previous stage. Form 3: The whole colouring of a clear light green without any pink, but with a light yellow lateral line. They feed chiefly on the green, unripe holly berries, boring small round holes in them." - Frohawk (1924)

4th Instar

"The third and last moult June 13th, 1900. Three days after, and twenty days old, it measures 11 mm. long. Form 1: The colouring is now more brilliant; the dorsal and lateral bands of a deep pink strongly contrast with the light green sides; the ventral surface and claspers green. Form 2: After the third moult much of the pink colouring is lost; the sides now are green with rather darker oblique stripes, and the lateral yellow line of the previous stage is merely the faintest tinge of pink, and the dorsal stripe is brownish-pink. Form 3: Just before the third moult it measures 6.5 mm. long. One hour after moulting it eats its cast skin. It moulted the third time on June 17th, 1900. Form 2: Fully grown, after third moult, twenty-five days old, it measures 14.8 mm. in length. The whole colouring becomes a purplish-pink, with a paler pink lateral band, all the green having vanished. This larva became fully grown on June 19th, and pupated evening June 21st. Form 1: Also turned wholly pink when full grown, and spun up early morning June 21st on the under surface of a holly leaf, attaching itself by a silk cincture round the waist, and by the anal claspers to a loose pad of silk; it pupated on the evening of June 23rd, being twenty-six days in the larval state. Form 3: Likewise assumed a dull pinkish colour all over when it became fully grown on June 24th; it stopped feeding and roamed about for thirty-six hours, and finally spun up on the 26th and pupated June 28th, 1900, and emerged (a female) on July 16th, 1900, remaining eighteen days in the pupal state. The fully grown larva measures from 12.7 mm. to 14.8 mm. long. The very small shining bronze-black head is attached to a yellow retractile neck; it is protruded while feeding and crawling, otherwise it is hidden by being withdrawn into the projecting and somewhat compressed anterior segment. The segments are humped dorsally from the second to ninth inclusive; the remaining posterior three segments are somewhat flattened. There is a medio-dorsal furrow, and a dilated lateral ridge extends all round the larva, concealing the legs and claspers. The ventral surface is very flat. The honey-gland on the tenth segment is a transverse dorsal incision. The surface is very finely granulated and densely beset with minute star-like processes, each emitting a serrated spine, mostly tinged with rust colour at the tip. The star formations are white and glassy; they are largest on the dorsal surface and on the side, where they are thickly placed in two oblique patches on each segment; the spiracles are white, finely outlined with black, but inconspicuous, being deeply set in the central sub-divisional furrow of each segment. After feeding, when fully grown, the larvae become very restless, and wander about for one or two days before spinning up for pupation. When they feed on the bloom of ivy, they eat away the bud or young berry, leaving the stalk and cup of the bud." - Frohawk (1924)

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UK Butterflies - Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus

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The larva is extremely well camouflaged, and is usually a plain green colour, although some larvae may also have areas that are light pink. The larva is most-easily found by looking for damage to the developing flower buds, where it may usually be found attached to a neighbouring bud.

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High Nature Value Farming – Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)

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High Nature Value Farming – Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)

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High Nature Value Farming - Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)

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The severe decline of Marsh fritillary populations in large parts of Europe during the past decades coincides with drastic changes in agricultural practices

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The Xerces Blue is a small, brightly colored butterfly characterized by iridescent blue on the upper wing surfaces of males, and pale spots below. Originally described in 1852, it was endemic to, and once locally common, in the coastal sand dunes of the upper San Francisco Peninsula, including sites now within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The butterfly preferred stabilized, sandy sites where its low-growing larval host plant occurred. It was of particular interest to lepidopterists, as populations of the butterfly displayed extensive variation on their wing patterns resulting in several named forms.

Unfortunately, growing urban development resulted in extensive disturbance and loss of habitat. By the early 1940s the Xerces Blue was driven to extinction, becoming one of the first and most well-known butterflies in the United States lost due to human impact. Today, the Florida Museum of Natural History's McGuire Center is one of only a few U.S. institutions with specimens of the Xerces Blue.

The butterfly's extinction inspired the foundation of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in 1971, and in a very real sense, ushered in a renewed contemporary emphasis on the conservation of insects and their habitats.

Jaret Daniels
Director, McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity
Florida Museum of Natural History

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The Xerces Blue is a small, brightly colored butterfly characterized by iridescent blue on the upper wing surfaces of males, and pale spots below. Originally described in 1852, it was endemic to, and once locally common, in the coastal sand dunes of the upper San Francisco Peninsula, including sites now within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

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Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is the largest butterfly in the world, with a wingspan of almost one foot.

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Xerces blue butterfly - Extinct -- but maybe not forever - Pictures - CBS News

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Xerces blue butterfly - Extinct -- but maybe not forever - Pictures - CBS News

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These beautiful butterflies lived in the sand dunes of San Francisco until urban development drove them to extinction in the mid-20th century. They are the first known North American butterfly to become extinct due to...

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Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue Euphilotes ancilla (Barnes & McDunnough, 1918) | Butterflies and Moths of North America

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Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue Euphilotes ancilla (Barnes & McDunnough, 1918) | Butterflies and Moths of North America

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Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue Euphilotes ancilla (Barnes & McDunnough, 1918) | Butterflies and Moths of North America

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Identification: Upperside of male is deep blue with wide black borders; hindwing orange band usually absent. Female brown with variably expressed marginal orange patch on the hindwing. Underside of both sexes is light blue-gray with black spots. Underside of forewing often suffused with smoky gray.

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Butterfly Facts For Kids - The Ulysses Butterfly

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Butterfly Facts For Kids - The Ulysses Butterfly

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Butterfly Facts For Kids - The Ulysses Butterfly

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One of the most beautiful blue butterflies is the Ulysses Butterfly. Also known as the blue mountain butterfly, this species is a larger Australian swallowtail. They live in the Australian tropical rainforest. The Ulysses Butterfly is a tourism symbol for the northern Australian coast.

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Meadow Brown, Butterflies of the World, 2000+ species illustrated. Anatomy, biology, lifecycle, taxonomy, ecology, evolution, survival strategies, migration, habitats, butterfly-watching holidays worldwide, trip reports, photography

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Click on an underlined word for more information on that subject.

U

ULYSSES BUTTERFLY
Papilio ulysses, also known as the Ulysses butterfly, the Blue Mountain Swallowtail, the Blue Emperor, and the Mountain Blue, is a spectacular Australian butterfly. The male is an iridescent blue-green with a dark background. The female is more subdued in color. They have a wingspan of about 5.5 inches (14 cm). Both have a long "swallowtail." Males are attracted to most blue objects (mistaking them for females). There are 16 known subspecies.

UNCUS
The uncus is the hook-shaped, downward-pointing end of the vein on the wing of male butterflies and moths.

UNDERSTORY
The understory of a rainforest is a dark, cool environment under the tree leaves (the canopy) but over the forest floor.

URANIA MOTH
The Urania moth (also called the sunset moth) is an iridescent moth that is active during the day (unlike most moths). This migratory insect lives in tropical rainforests. The 3 inch wide wings are blue, gold-green, yellow-cream, and red-orange, with black bands and spots. The lower hind wings have many short "tails." The body is chubby and the antennae are feathered. Classification: Family Uraniidae (swallowtail moths), Genus Urania, many species: U. riphaeus (from Madagascar, an island off the southeast coast of Africa), U. leilus (from Peru), U. fulgens (from Mexico, Belize), U. croesus (from Tanzania), U. sloanus (from Jamaica).

URQUHART, FRED A.
Dr. Fred A. Urquhart (1911- ) is a Canadian scientist who has studied butterflies ( Monarchs in particular). Dr. Urquhart was the first person to tag a monarch butterfly, beginning in 1937. In 1975, Dr. Urquhart determined that some groups of monarchs overwinter in the transvolcanic mountains of Mexico, undertaking a migration of 2,000 miles that takes up to three generations to finish.

V

VASCULAR PLANT
A vascular plant has specialized pipelines that carry water and nutrients around the plant. Club mosses, ferns, horsetails, gymnosperms, and flowering plants are vascular plants.

VEINS
Veins are the rib-like tubes in insect wings (including butterflies and moths) that support the wings and bring nourishment to them.

VENATION
Venation is the vein pattern in the wings of butterflies and moths.

VICEROY
The Viceroy butterfly ( Limenitis archippus) is a brown and orange non-poisonous butterfly that is very similar to the Monarch; it is a Batesian mimic of the poisonous Monarch. It can be distinguished from the Monarch by the black line that crosses its wings. Also, the undersides of its wings are quite similar to the topside (unlike the Monarch, whose underside is much lighter). It has a wingspan of 2.75 to 3 inches (7 to 7.5 cm). The Viceroy is found from Canada to Mexico. The caterpillar is olive green and brown with bristly tufts behind the head; it eats mostly willow and cottonwood. Classification: Family Nymphalidae.

VIVIPAROUS
Viviparous animals are born live and do not hatch from eggs. People are viviparous; butterflies and moths are oviparous, not viviparous.

W

WARM BLOODED
Warm blooded (or endothermic) animals generate their own body heat to maintain their body temperature. Birds and mammals are endothermic.

WARNING COLORATION
Warning coloration (or aposematic coloration) is the bright, attention-getting coloration that protects an organism from experienced predators (i.e., predators who have previously eaten a similar-looking animal and have gotten sick from it). Both poisonous organisms (like the Monarch butterfly) and its mimics (poisonous or not) are said to have aposematic coloration.

WESTERN PYGMY BLUE
The Western Pygmy Blue, Brephidium exilis, is the smallest butterfly in the United States. The adult is about 3/8 inch wide. The eggs are blue-green; the caterpillar is light green and eats pickleweed, saltbush, and pigweed. Family Lycaenidae.

WINGS
Butterflies and moths have four wings. The wings are made of two chitonous layers (membranes) that are nourished and supported by tubular veins.

WINGSPAN
Wingspan is the distance measured across a butterfly's (or moth's) wings.

WOOLLY BEAR
The woolly bear caterpillar is the hairy caterpillar of any of the tiger moths (family Arctiidae).

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Y

Z

ZEBRA LONGWING BUTTERFLY
The Zebra Longwing is a small, black-and-yellow striped butterfly from warm areas.

ZEBRA SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY
The Zebra Swallowtail ( Eurytides marcellus) is a butterfly with distinctive black and white markings and elongated tails on its hindwings. The caterpillar is yellow-green with black and yellow stripes. Larvae eat pawpaw. The Zebra Swallowtail has a wingspan of about 2-2.75 inches (5-7 cm). The Zebra Swallowtail lives for about 6 months in its adult stage. It is found in the eastern part of North America from Canada to Florida, USA. Family Papilionidae.

ZODIAC MOTH
The Zodiac moth (Alcides zodiaca) is a large moth that looks like a swallowtail butterfly (but like all moths, it rests with its wings outspread). Its rounded wings have large brown and cream/purple stripes. This moth lives in Australian tropical rainforests. It drinks flower nectar through its proboscis. The Zodiac moth is diurnal (most actice during the day).

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Advertisement. EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site. As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages. Click here to learn more. (Already a member? Click here.) Click on an underlined word for more information on that subject.

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Celebrating Wildflowers is events, wildflower viewing areas, wildflower photos, native plant information, pollinators, just for kids, coloring pages, teacher resources, ferns, rare plants, plant of the week, pollinator of the month, invasive plants, and wildflower links.

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Butterfly Conservation - A-Z of butterflies

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Butterfly Conservation - A-Z of butterflies

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Butterfly Conservation - A-Z of butterflies

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Butterfly Conservation is a British charity devoted to saving butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout the UK.