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BROWN ARGUS BUTTERFLY Junonia hedonia zelima This butterfly rarely occurs south of Maryborough QLD.  The only places I know of are BOONDALL WETLANDS; LAKE MACDONALD  and PIONEER PARK @ GUEERULLA near Kenilworth.  The larval host plant has to battle with invasive weeds, although the introduced Hygrophila is the host plant @ the lake where it outcompetes native species. In Maryborough the invasive weed Ruellia tweediana a persistent but very attractive flower has invaded the creek.  At Gueerulla an African grass is the problem.  TINY GRASS-BLUE BUTTERFLY LAYING ON  KARAMAT: Hygrophila angustifolia BARUNG LANDCARE MALENY has KARAMAT in tubes. MEXICAN PETUNIA an invasive weed
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SWAMP TIGER BUTTERFLY Maaroom on the Fraser Coast was a good butterfly spot for the SWAMP TIGER BUTTERFLY Danaus affinis; unfortunately it seams the host plant CYNANCHUM CARNOSUM has been partially cleared. The site is now badly infested with Asparagus fern . A weedy plant that was once used by florist for Wedding 'buttonholes'    I saw  HELEN SCHWENKE at the WOODFORD FOLK Festival site where she has been actively involved in habitat enrichment for some years including a labelled butterfly walk. Helen told me that by planting the larval host plant in her garden in West End Brisbane she attracted the SWAMP TIGER BUTTERFLY. This was good to hear as I had previously thought it needed to breed in the littoral zones. I am going to check the Sunshine Coast sites near Caloundra see below. GOLDEN BEACH CALOUNDRA GOLDEN BEACH I have found many more vines among the mangroves. Before reaching the last amenities; healthy vigorous plants but no sign of Larvae. No adults

BIRDS MOTHS AND GUM TREE BLOSSOM

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BARADINE -GATEWAY TO THE PILLIGA MUGGA IRONBARK ( white flowers) flowering beside the ANGLICAN CHURCH in Lachlan street BARADINE  also a pink flowered tree behind the vicarage. MUGGA is an important habitat tree in the PILLIGA SCRUB. The endangered REGENT HONEYEATER depends on this type  of tree - mostly Eucalyptus species as it feeds on nectar and LERP which occur on the leaves. I was lucky enough to see three birds  some time ago @ SWINDLE WELL CROSSING in the PILLIGA, Another good area for these birds is the CAPERTEE VALLEY NSW     BARDEE GRUB empty pupal cases under the tree. Adult moth was photographed earlier @ BINNAWAY on the CASTLEREAGH RIVER.

BUTTERFLIES AND HOSTPLANTS

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CHEQUERED SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY    CHEQUERED SWALLOWTAIL this beautiful butterfly was breeding in the WESTERN PILLIGA one season  The site became too dry for the Larval Host Plants to survive. Seeds were planted  at the  COONABARABRAN BUTTERFLY WALK and are thriving,. Host plant  Cullen tenax  -below also the larval plant for 3 small "blues"  
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DAINTY SWALLOWTAIL caterpillars raised 3 pupated - one has emerged @ the COONABARABRAN BUTTERFLY WALK during this month.
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SCARLET JEZABEL flying today at the COONABARABRAN BUTTERFLY WALK

THE MAJESTIC RED ASH TREE

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Alphitonia excelsa RED ASH; SOAPY ASH  YARRIGAN NP in the PILLIGA region Host plant for many MOTHS & BUTTERFLIES