Bank’s Brown

Scientific Name: Heteronympha banksii banksii

Other Common Names: None.

Family of Butterflies: Nymphalidae (Browns and Nymphs).

Wingspan: 48mm.

Local Records: This species is mainly found in the far south of our region in the taller forests around
Lyonville, ref iNaturalist. There is also a museum record from near Malmsbury, ref Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution outside our region: Most Victoria records are from the Yarra Ranges, Otway Ranges and
coastal areas of Gippsland. The population in the Grampians is a different sub-species to that found in
the rest of Victoria. Outside Victoria Bank’s Brown occur along the east coast of Australia to as far north
as Brisbane and inland to the ACT. Ref: ref Atlas of Living Australia and iNaturalist.

Larval Host Plants: Poa tenera and Wiregrass, Tetrarrhena juncacea.

Larval association with ants: None.

Adult Flight Times in Victoria: Peak flying is in March although there are a few records from as early as
January and as late as May.

Conservation Status:

• The Action plan for Australian Butterflies: No Conservation Significance

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Not listed

• Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, Threatened List: Not Listed

Other Notes: This is a species of cool wet forests below 900m with a grassy understory.

References and further reading:

Atlas of Living Australia – Heteronympha penelope, Shouldered Brown
iNaturalist – Heteronympha penelope, Shouldered Brown
Braby, Michael F., Second edition 2016. The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing.
Field, Ross P., 2013. Butterflies: Identification and Life History. Museum Victoria.