This was a rare treat! I’ve only ever seen these in Butterflyhouses, books or web sites. It was delightful to see one attracted to the buddleia down under the eucalypts on our own property.
The iridescent blue patches on the wings are only visible from certain angles, and can be difficult to photograph. This is a male Common Eggfly. A rather drab name for a very striking and uncommon butterfly.
Common Eggfly butterfly. The blue-purple irridescent patches on the wings can only be seen from certain angles and can be challenging to photograph.Common Eggfly butterfly. From this angle the brilliant blue patches seem to disappear. Compare this to the first image to the left.Common Eggfly butterfly on a eucalypt branch. The outer wings are strikingly marked but give no hint of the brilliance inside.Common Eggfly butterfly. From this angle more irridescent colours can be seen on the inner corner of the right hind wing (click to enlarge).Common Eggfly butterfly basking in the warmth of last evening sunlight.
