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Australian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius inconstans)

The Australian Fritillary is a butterfly recorded in scattered locations in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. It depends on coastal swamps and open swampy areas where Arrowhead Violet grows, making these habitats important where works are proposed.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Critically endangered.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Endangered.

Seasonal planning

A single male was reported flying near Port Macquarie on 13 April 2015; this is an isolated observation, not a defined flight season.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • April: A single male was reported flying near Port Macquarie on 13 April 2015; this is an isolated observation, not a defined flight season.

Identification: Appearance

Adults are orange with black spots above and pale with dark markings beneath; females have larger black spots. This description is for the species as a whole, rather than specifically for the Australian subspecies.

Adults are orange with black spots above and pale with dark markings beneath; females have larger black spots. This description is for the species as a whole, rather than specifically for the Australian subspecies.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The Australian Fritillary has been recorded in scattered locations across south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales, with a core range described between Gympie and Port Macquarie. Historical records extend north to Mount Bellenden Ker and south to the Hunter Valley.

The Australian Fritillary has been recorded in scattered locations across south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales, with a core range described between Gympie and Port Macquarie. Historical records extend north to Mount Bellenden Ker and south to the Hunter Valley.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It usually occurs around river estuaries or in open, swampy coastal areas where its larval food plant, Arrowhead Violet, grows. The species is restricted to areas where this plant occurs.

It usually occurs around river estuaries or in open, swampy coastal areas where its larval food plant, Arrowhead Violet, grows. The species is restricted to areas where this plant occurs.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Caterpillars feed on Arrowhead Violet. Adults feed from flowers of various plants in and around their breeding habitat.

Caterpillars feed on Arrowhead Violet. Adults feed from flowers of various plants in and around their breeding habitat.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Eggs are laid singly on a leaf of Arrowhead Violet, the caterpillar's food plant.

Eggs are laid singly on a leaf of Arrowhead Violet, the caterpillar's food plant.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Threats: Threats

Coastal swamps have been lost through farming and urbanisation, reducing habitat for the butterfly. Weeds at remaining swamps can smother the native violets used by the butterfly.

Coastal swamps have been lost through farming and urbanisation, reducing habitat for the butterfly. Weeds at remaining swamps can smother the native violets used by the butterfly.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or draining coastal swamps can remove habitat and the Arrowhead Violet needed by the butterfly. Works that lead to urbanisation or the spread of weeds in remaining swamps may also affect its habitat or food plant.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Wetland or sedgeland

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It usually occurs around river estuaries or in open, swampy coastal areas where its larval food plant, Arrowhead Violet, grows.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: NSW, QLD.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations: Water-associated habitat mentioned in profile

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It usually occurs around river estuaries or in open, swampy coastal areas where its larval food plant, Arrowhead Violet, grows.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: NSW, QLD.

Habitat use: general

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources