Australian Entomologist, 1997, 24 (2): 93-95 93 NEW DISTRIBUTION RECORDS FOR SOME BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA) FROM CENTRAL WESTERN QUEENSLAND T.A. WOODGER Arimco Mining Pty Limited, PO Box 1929, Mount Isa, Qld 4825 Abstract New distribution records and range extensions are given for Taractrocera ina Waterhouse, T anisomorpha (Lower), Papilio aegeus Donovan, Catopsilia scylla (Linnaeus), Delias aganippe (Donovan), D. argenthona (Fabricius), Tirumala hamata (W.S.Macleay), Junonia orithya (Linnaeus), Acraea andromacha (Fabricius), Jalmenus icilius Hewitson and Candalides heathi (Cox) from Selwyn Mine, near Mt Isa, central western Queensland. Introduction The following records and range extensions from Selwyn Mine were made between October 1991 and April 1997. Selwyn Mine (21°41'S, 140?28'E) lies 140 km south east of Mount Isa, central western Queensland. Records are based on observations and collected specimens representing eleven species, two being major extensions to previous records. Observations HESPERIIDAE Taractrocera ina Waterhouse. Two females were collected on 23.11.1995 and 21.ii.1997, both flying along a creek bank beside Mount Dora, Selwyn Mine. It was not recorded from the Gulf of Carpentaria or western Queensland by Dunn & Dunn (1991) and provides a confirmed site in central western Queensland within the range indicated by Common and Waterhouse (1981). Taractrocera anisomorpha (Lower). Seven specimens were collected in ii. & 111.1995 and two in iii.1997, all flying along a creek bank beside Mount Dora, Selwyn Mine. It was not recorded from the Gulf of Carpentaria or western Queensland by Dunn & Dunn (1991) and provides a confirmed site in central western Queensland within the range indicated by Common and Waterhouse (1981). PAPILIONIDAE Papilio aegeus Donovan. Five females were observed between 23.ii.- 9.11.1996, flying in a westerly direction across the Selwyn Ranges and a male was observed flying along a creek on 9.11.1997. Alice Springs was listed by Common and Waterhouse (1981) as an isolated inland Northern Territory location but there are no previous records from the arid inland of central western Queensland. PIERIDAE Catopsilia scylla (Linnaeus). This species was collected or observed between i-iv.1996 and i-iv.1997. It was not recorded from the Gulf of Carpentaria or western Queensland by Dunn & Dunn (1991) and provides a 94 Australian Entomologist, 1997, 24 (2) confirmed site in central western Queensland within the range indicated by Common and Waterhouse (1981). Delias aganippe (Donovan). This species was collected or observed from v- vii. in 1993, 1994 and 1996, flying around flowers of Corymbia terminalis, both on the open river flats and around the upper section of trees on local hill tops. These records represent the most northern limit of D. aganippe in central Australia, the previous being Alice Springs (Common and Waterhouse 1981). D. aganippe is only occasionally encountered north of Yeppoon and records have been confined to the coastal regions and nearby tablelands (Common and Waterhouse 1981, Fox 1991, Braby 1992, 1994). This record from the poorly studied central western region of Queensland indicates that the distribution of D. aganippe is more widespread in the tropics than has been recognised previously. Delias argenthona (Fabricius). Specimens were observed on 9.vii.1991 and 7.vii.1993, flying around Eucalyptus leucophloia. A search of mistletoe failed to locate early stages of this species. The previous most western limit recorded in Queensland is Longreach (Common and Waterhouse 1981). NYMPHALIDAE Tirumala hamata (W.S.Macleay). In ii. & iii.1996 and 1997, numerous specimens were observed flying in an easterly direction over the Selwyn Ranges. This locality falls within the broad distribution given in Common and Waterhouse (1981) and provides a firm record for central western Queensland. Dunn & Dunn (1991) listed vagrant specimens from as far west as Mitchell. Junonia orithya (Linnaeus). This species was observed in iv.1991, viii.1993, vi.1995 and iv.1997. It was not recorded from the Gulf of Carpentaria or western Queensland by Dunn & Dunn (1991) and provides a confirmed site in central western Queensland within the range indicated by Common and Waterhouse (1981). Acraea andromacha (Fabricius). Two adults were observed on 18.11.1992 and 20.xi.1995, the latter hill-topping. Numerous additional specimens were observed from ii-xi.1996 and ii-iv.1997. Common and Waterhouse (1981) did not list it from central western Queensland, although it is known from Alice Springs, NT. LYCAENIDAE Jalmenus icilius Hewitson. This species was collected on 8.iv.1991 and in 1.1995 a female was observed flying around Senna artemisioides, upon which larvae were collected and reared. This record represents a significant range extension in Queensland of over 1000 km north from the limit shown in Common and Waterhouse (1981). Australian Entomologist, 1997, 24 (2) 95 Candalides heathi (Cox). One specimen was collected in i.1996 and two in iv.1997, flying at 1.5m and landing on the tips of tall grasses along the edge of a creek beside Mount Dora, Selwyn Mine. This locality extends the range by approximately 200 km north from Boulia, the previous northern limit in central western Queensland (Common and Waterhouse 1981). Acknowledgments I thank Ted Edwards, CSIRO, for the identification of Jalmenus icilius and Michael Braby, CSIRO, for assistance with the paper. References BRABY, M.F. 1992. Range extensions and distribution records for some butterflies in north- eastern Queensland. Victorian Entomologist 22: 51-54. BRABY, M.F. 1994. Range extensions and distribution records for some butterflies in north- eastern Queensland - part 3. Queensland Naturalist 32: 121-129. COMMON, LF.B. and WATERHOUSE, D.F. 1981. Butterflies of Australia. Angus & Robertson, Sydney. DUNN, K.L. and DUNN, L.E. 1991. Review of Australian Butterflies: distribution, life history and taxonomy. Parts 1-4. Privately published, Melbourne. FOX, P.J. 1991. The occurrence of the wood white butterfly in central Queensland. Victorian Entomologis2t1 : 14-15.