Ballarat's most common local brown butterfly is the aptly-named common brown. It is found throughout the region, particularly where grasses grow under eucalypts.
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Male and female common brown butterflies are rather different in appearance, and slightly different in size.
Very similar to the common brown male is the marbled xenica, pictured here in a photo taken at Broomfield.
Slightly smaller than the common brown, the marbled xenica is often present in local forests in summer, but is less likely than the common brown to be found in Ballarat's suburbs away from bushland.
Its wingspan is just under 40mm, as distinct from the male common brown's 60-65mm.
Like the common brown, the marbled xenica is found mostly where there are eucalypts, although - again like the common brown - it does not feed at any stage of its life on eucalypt leaves.
Its caterpillars are grass eaters, while the adults feed on nectar from flowers (including, but not only, eucalypt flowers).
The green caterpillars of both the common brown and marbled xenica feed at night on many sorts of native grasses, as well as several introduced species.
Frequently disturbed along bush tracks, this is a low-flying butterfly that often rests on the ground.
It is rather alert and difficult to approach, and its camouflage makes it extremely hard to find when it alights with its wings folded amongst dry leaves.
The sexes of the marbled xenica are rather similar, although females are paler and slightly larger, and the male has a dark line across its front wings (as seen in the photo).
The marbled xenica is known as Klug's xenica in older books.
There are several Victorian butterflies known as xenicas. Most are slightly smaller than the common brown, but rather similar in colour.
LAKE HAWKS
A couple of months ago, we received a photo of two large raptors over Lake Wendouree.
A resident swamp harrier was clearly unsettled by the presence of a visiting white-bellied sea eagle.
We might think of a swamp harrier as a large hawk, but it was startlingly smaller than the sea eagle.
A reference check of respective wingspans shows the sea eagle's to be two metres, and the swamp harrier's 1.4 metres.
Accentuating the stark contrast is the fact that the sea eagle's wings are much broader than those of the harrier.
There have been recent observations of an Australian hobby (little falcon) at the lake.
One perching on an island tree was slimmer and shorter than a magpie. Its wingspan is up to 90cm in the larger female.
NATURE QUERIES ANSWERED
What is this fairly large moth I disturbed while watering the garden?
I.S., Ballarat East.
This is a coprosma hawk moth, a night-flying moth that usually stays hidden during the day.
Its relatively large size, streamlined shape, orange-red hindwings and white antennae all help to identify it.
There is a white stripe on the side of its head.
It is a moth of summer and autumn, when it sometimes seen flying around flowers at dusk.
It also hovers in front of flowers like a hummingbird, sipping nectar with its long extended tongue.
In flight, it makes a low buzzing noise.
The striking orange-red on the hindwings is only seen when the wings are fully open.
Caterpillars feed on dahlia, coprosma, fuchsia and other plants.
- Questions and photos are welcome. Email to rthomas@vic.australis.com.au, or send to Roger Thomas at The Courier, PO Box 21, Ballarat, 3353.