Scarlet Jezebel Delias argenthona
Wingspan, female 61mm, male 62mm
Distribution: Northern WA and northern NT, eastern QLD and eastern NSW
Sighted at Claire Cottage: Sept to June.
Wingspan, female 61mm, male 62mm
Distribution: Northern WA and northern NT, eastern QLD and eastern NSW
Sighted at Claire Cottage: Sept to June.
This very hungry male Scarlet Jezebel spent a long time feeding on each Banksia floret, Sept 2017
One very small glimpse we were able to catch on camera of the upperside of this male's hindwing, Sept 2017
A bit more upperside of this male, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 7 Jun 2020
Male Scarlet Jezebel, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 7 Jun 2020
Another lone male visiting the garden, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 30 Sep 2019
Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 7 Jun 2020
Scarlet Jezebel Delias argenthona
Wingspan, female 61mm, male 62mm
Sighted: Sept 2017, 2019, Apr 2018 and Jun 2020
Between 27/09/19 and 30/09/19 we sighted one male Delias argenthona each day at Claire Cottage. We assume we were probably seeing the same specimen each day as this species is uncommon on the Dorrigo Plateau. If it was the same male butterfly every day it is interesting that it chose to stay in and around our garden and not commence a journey to search for a mate. We do have a number of mistletoe's growing in and close to our garden so that may have played a part in the butterfly choosing to stay with us for such a long period particularly if there happens to be other healthy pupa yet to emerge attached to mistletoes high in our trees.
June 2020 - we again learnt the value of having the yellow flowering Buddleia growing in our garden for in comparison to other Buddleias it holds its flowers in to winter and continues to attract butterflies when our other Buddleias have ceased flowering. Not only have the June 2020 flowers photographed above withstood a 1.5C frost without any apparent damage but the bush continues to produce new flowers after a frost event.
First Claire Cottage sighting Spring - 27/09/19
Last Claire Cottage sighting Autumn/Winter - 14/04/18, 07/06/20
Wingspan, female 61mm, male 62mm
Sighted: Sept 2017, 2019, Apr 2018 and Jun 2020
Between 27/09/19 and 30/09/19 we sighted one male Delias argenthona each day at Claire Cottage. We assume we were probably seeing the same specimen each day as this species is uncommon on the Dorrigo Plateau. If it was the same male butterfly every day it is interesting that it chose to stay in and around our garden and not commence a journey to search for a mate. We do have a number of mistletoe's growing in and close to our garden so that may have played a part in the butterfly choosing to stay with us for such a long period particularly if there happens to be other healthy pupa yet to emerge attached to mistletoes high in our trees.
June 2020 - we again learnt the value of having the yellow flowering Buddleia growing in our garden for in comparison to other Buddleias it holds its flowers in to winter and continues to attract butterflies when our other Buddleias have ceased flowering. Not only have the June 2020 flowers photographed above withstood a 1.5C frost without any apparent damage but the bush continues to produce new flowers after a frost event.
First Claire Cottage sighting Spring - 27/09/19
Last Claire Cottage sighting Autumn/Winter - 14/04/18, 07/06/20
