Common Brown Butterflies – Heteronympha merope – are both common and numerous. At this time of year only the females are left, waiting for cooler weather and green grass to lay their eggs on. In the meantime they gather in great numbers around food plants, never too far from grassy fields.

From mid to late summer you can’t walk through the paddocks without disturbing clouds of Common Browns. Butterfly strike (being flown into) is quite common.

This year they enjoyed the over-ripe figs immensely, then moved on to the buddlieas. They can often be seen basking in the sun on dirt, gravel or grass. The Common Browns also appear to be attracted to wild blackberry if they can find it, especially one growing in the shade of eucalypts.

More information on the Common Brown Butterfly can be found at http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/nymp/merope.html

These dainty butterflies are about half the size of the Dainty or Dingy Swallowtail. The upper wing is almost transparent, with only the back markings and a light dusting of white.

They have constantly returned to the buddleia to feed during the last two days, and may have been visiting it far longer.

This was the first of their species I have seen outside books and web sites. Another exciting discovery, at least for me.

Postscript: later in the season I saw a few Glasswing Butterflies frequenting the banana passionfruit. Apparently they can use this as a larvae food plant. Hopefully that means more Glasswings in the future!