Bush Beauty / Forest Beauty

Paralethe dendrophilus
A glowing Bush Beauty at Ferncliffe.
A glowing Bush Beauty at Ferncliffe.
Steve Woodhall

A sign of high summer, this lovely butterfly skitters around the forest edges from late December to May. It has a subspecies with orange or cream forewing spots, but the individuals at Ferncliffe sport bright white spots. Steve Woodhall describes its flight as “slow and flapping”. The larvae feed on Poaceae grasses, and we’ve seen an adult enjoying an overripe quinine berry.