On 27 09 2020 Friends of B’lmrai were delighted to observe and photograph butterflies at Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens, Tanawha. Photos and short video
- Several were seen flying between planted specimens of Tall Saw-Sedge Gahnia clarkei, in the landscaped borders of the car park of the Arts and Ecology Centre.
- Others were seen in and around a small planted patch of Gahnia clarkei in the “Open Lawns” section of the park.
- A female appeared to be laying eggs at the base of the Gahnia.
These observations suggest B’lmrai (Tisiphone abeona rawnslei/ Sunshine Coast Sword-grass Brown) may make use of landscaped plantings of the host plant Tall Saw-sedge Gahnia clarkei.
However, on the same day the group visited extensive natural stands of Gahnia clarkei in swampy land at Chevallum, (photo), without seeing any butterflies.
On 7th October 2020 This website was given a supportive mention in the online newsletter of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club: NewsBOIC No.10 2020.
On 14 10 2020 Kylie Gordon, Conservation Partnerships Officer of Sunshine Coast Regional Council, photographed the butterfly in association with Gahnia clarkei at a property on the Stanley River at Peachester.
On 11th October 2020, John Moss and colleagues visited Isambert Road Environment Reserve, Landsborough, where they observed a number of B’lmrai (over 15 specimens) flying amongst a significant colony of the Saw-sedge.
On 11th & 12th October 2020 Andrew Atkins visited potential habitat sites at Noosaville and Mapleton, observing only a few (2-3) adult B’lmrai on the wing. At the Noosaville site (Lakes Entrance Ave) an “escaped” burn-off nearly wiped out off the Saw-sedge colony.
In late December 2020 another substantial colony of Gahnia clarkei was found by Andrew at Yurol Forest (Between Cooroy and Pomona), but the presence of the butterfly was not established there.
A survey is being planned to establish whether this butterfly exists or used to exist on Fraser Island.
So there is a mixed 2020 report on our campaign to keep our own butterfly off the endangered list.
