Brisbane butterflies: Experts say ongoing warm weather could bring butterfly boom in Brisbane

Nature lovers are likely to be in for a treat as the warm weather continues, with experts saying a butterfly boom is possible in Brisbane. Here’s why.

Butterflies are back, and with a few more days of sun, experts predict Brisbane could see a boom within the coming weeks.

A number of Caper White butterflies have been spotted around Brisbane this week, with local butterfly breeder Ross Kendall saying it was the perfect time of year for an increased population.

“It’s quite common at this time of year that there’s a migration of them from out west. They tend to move towards the coast and sometimes this happens in literally millions over the wide area,” he said.

“This year is a better migration than last year, but it’s not as massive as some years.”

Caper White butterfly. Picture: Ross Kendall.

While no one knows why the butterflies migrate from the west, Mr Kendall said weather conditions can play a factor in how many end up heading east.

“Weather affects the population numbers because for instance in an extended drought, the plants that the caterpillars feed on can’t support a larger population,” he said.

“Now we’ve had good rain, the food plants are in very healthy condition and that’s allowing the population to grow.”

Caper white eggs on feeding leaves. Picture: Ross Kendall.

Dr Trevor Lambkin, president of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club in Brisbane said this migration was only “moderate” compared to other years, but it had the chance to increase soon.

“If we continue to get a few more days of sunny weather and temperatures increase, everything will grow beautifully and I suspect that probably within the next three to four weeks, we’ll get a boom in butterflies,” he said.

The Caper White larvae and a pupa. Picture: Ross Kendall.

In Brisbane, butterflies tend to breed in the forest area that surrounds creeks and when populations grow, they move into suburbs with Dr Lambkin saying this is when they’ll be more noticeable.

“Last year because of the wet weather, the numbers weren’t as much and this year I suspect we had even more rain,” he said.

“But once we get that sunny weather, they’ll do much better than one or two years ago. I suspect this year will be the best year, so long as it doesn’t keep raining.”