Insecta › Lepidoptera › Nymphalidae
Red admiral
About 5 cm across
A butterfly so calm you can often get very close before it flies off.
Field Guide · Chapter 19 of 29
Butterflies and moths
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Insecta › Lepidoptera › Nymphalidae
Painted lady
Most widespread
Painted ladies make a 14,500 km return trip, from tropical Africa to the Arctic Circle, over up to six generations.
Insecta › Lepidoptera › Papilionidae
Old World swallowtail
65 to 86 mm across
Despite its name, it is not restricted to the Old World. It reaches as far as Alaska.
Insecta › Lepidoptera › Nymphalidae
Menelaus blue morpho
About 12 cm wingspan
Collectors prized its blue so highly it was widely hunted in the 20th century.
Insecta › Lepidoptera › Saturniidae
Luna moth
Wingspan 4.5 in
As an adult it has only vestigial mouthparts and does not feed.
Insecta › Lepidoptera › Saturniidae
Atlas moth
Adults cannot eat. They live for a week or two on fat stored as a caterpillar.
Insecta › Lepidoptera › Sphingidae
Death's-head hawkmoth
Up to 120 mm
Most moths rub body parts to make noise. This one squeaks from its throat.
Insecta › Lepidoptera › Geometridae
Peppered moth
45 to 62 mm wingspan
Its caterpillar can sense a twig's colour through its skin and match it.
Insecta › Lepidoptera › Sphingidae
Tobacco hornworm
30 to 50 day cycle
This caterpillar can store the nicotine from tobacco, then release it again.
Insecta › Lepidoptera › Noctuidae
Bogong moth
Up to 965 km
This moth can travel up to 965 km, twice a year.
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