Swordgrass Brown Butterfly

	Swordgrass Brown Butterfly Photographer - Ross Field
	Swordgrass Brown Butterfly larva Photographer - Ross Field

Tisiphone abeona

This large (55mm wingspan) butterfly is dark brown above with a central orange band and a blue centred eyespot to the forewing and a red-ringed eyespot to the hindwing.

It is common in swampy areas where the food plant grows.

It is an attractive slow-flying species that breeds on large sword sedges (Gahnia sp.).

Draining wetlands and urbanisation have caused a decline of this species in some areas but forestry operations and fire can stimulate germination of this plant in Mountain Ash forests.