Banks' Brown Butterfly

	Banks' Brown Butterfly Photographer - Ross Field Source - Musuem Victoria
	Banks' Brown Butterfly larva Photographer - Ross Field Source - Musuem Victoria

Heteronympha banksii

This largely brown butterfly has a wingspan of 45mm.

Above it is black with orange markings and a white-centred black eyespot on each wing.

The purplish brown suffusion of the underside of the hindwing distinguishes this species from other browns that fly in the same habitat.

It occurs in the forested foothills and mountains to the east of Melbourne and in similar habitats on the Mornington Peninsula and the Brisbane Ranges.

It is a late summer and autumn species that can be abundant locally. The larvae feed at night on a range of soft grasses (Poa sp.).