Tasmania is located south of the mainland of Australia, separated from the state of Victoria by the 240 km wide Bass Strait. Although Tasmania shares most of its fauna with the southern parts of Australia or Australia as a whole, Tasmania's isolation along with its wetter, cooler and cloudier weather caused the evolution of several endemic Tasmanian species and subspecies, butterflies included.
There are thirty-nine species of butterflies found in Tasmania. They are grouped primarily as: skippers, blues, browns, swallowtails and the introduced whites.
Papilionidae
family: Papilionidae (swallowtails) — 1 species
Papilioninae genus: Graphium Macleay's swallowtail, Graphium macleayanus (moggana)
Pieridae
family: Pieridae (whites and yellows) — 4 species
Coliadinae genus: Eurema Small grass yellow, Eurema smilax
Pierinae genus: Appias Albatross butterfly, Appias paulina genus: Anaphaeis Caper white, Anaphaeis java genus: Pieris Small white, Pieris rapae
Lycaenidae family: Lycaenidae (gossamer-winged blues and coppers) — 9 species
Polyommatinae genus: Candalides Blotched blue, Candalides acasta genus: Lampides Pea blue, Lampides boeticus genus: Neolucia Fringed blue, Neolucia agricola Mountain blue, Neolucia hobartensis Mathew's blue, Neolucia mathewi genus: Theclinesthes Chequered blue, Theclinesthes serpentata genus: Zizina Common grass blue, Zizina labradus
Theclinae genus: Paralucia Bright copper, Paralucia aurifera genus: Pseudalmenus Tasmanian hairstreak, Pseudalmenus chlorinda (chlorinda)
Nymphalidae family: Nymphalidae (brush– or four-footed) — 14 species
Danainae genus: Danaus Lesser wanderer butterfly, Danaus chrysippus Wanderer butterfly, Danaus plexippus
Nymphalinae genus: Junonia Meadow argus, Junonia villida genus: Vanessa Yellow admiral, Vanessa itea Australian painted lady, Vanessa kershawi
Satyrinae
genus: Argynnina Tasmanian brown, Argynnina hobartia genus: Geitoneura Klug's xenica, Geitoneura klugii genus: Heteronympha Bright-eyed brown, Heteronympha cordace Common brown, Heteronympha merope Shouldered brown, Heteronympha penelope genus: Nesoxenica Leprea brown, Nesoxenica leprea genus: Oreixenica Common silver xenica, Oreixenica lathoniella Orichora brown, Oreixenica orichora Ptunarra brown, Oreixenica ptunarra
Hesperiidae family: Hesperiidae (skippers) — 11 species
genus: Anisynta Dominula skipper Anisynta dominula genus: Antipodia Antipodia skipper Antipodia chaostola genus: Hesperilla Chrysotricha skipper Hesperilla chrysotricha Donnysa skipper Hesperilla donnysa Flame skipper Hesperilla idothea Master's skipper Hesperilla mastersi genus: Ocybadistes Yellow-banded dart Ocybadistes walkeri genus: Oreisplanus Marrawah skipper or alpine skipper Oreisplanus munionga genus: Pasma Tasmanica skipper or two-spotted grass-skipper Pasma tasmanicus genus: Taractrocera White grassdart Taractrocera papyria genus: Trapezites Rare white-spot skipper Trapezites lutea
See also List of butterflies of Australia List of butterflies of Victoria
References Lepidoptera of Tasmania Leatherwood Online - Article on Tasmanian Butterflies