Cephrenes augiades (Orange Palm Dart)

Cephrenes augiades sperthias
Cephrenes augiades “Northern form”

Notes

I saw plenty of males in my garden, back in the days when I had a garden. They bred in a neighbour’s palm trees, and they liked to bask on our frangipanis and feed from the lantanas. I didn’t see any females in our garden; I had to go to the Royal Botanic Gardens to see them. In April 2004 the Botanic Gardens were swarming with augiades, at least the bit where the palms are. There were less in May but still a few of them around.

Since those early days I haven’t come across this species in quite such numbers, but it is one of those butterflies that can turn up almost anywhere around Sydney, provided there are palms nearby.

Sightings

Ingleburn – April and May 2004
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney – lots of times

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