The Scarlet Jezebel belongs to a butterfly family found in Australia and New Guinea. The Scarlet Jezebel is seen in Australia’s northern states. The caterpillars feed exclusively on mistletoes.
A Scarlet Jezebel Butterfly, photographed in Byron Bay.
This Scarlet Jezebel is laying its eggs below a patch of mistletoe. Hopefully the caterpillas will climb to the mistletoe to feed.
There seem to be more butterflies around this April - on the south coast, NSW. Perhaps it has something to do with the bush-fires, fringing the town just 100 metres from where these photos were taken. Or perhaps it is the beautiful autumn weather of the last week. Anyway, the yellow Buddleia and the Plumbago have both been visited by a stream of butterflies of great variety and colour.
Painted Lady on the yellow Buddleia.
Orchard Swallowtail on the Plumbago.
Macleay’s Swallowtail.