Helena Brown: Tisiphone helena
Helena Brown Butterfly
Photo: C & D Frith
Australia's Wet Tropics
- This butterfly belongs to the family Nymphalidae, which includes many rainforest-dwelling species.
- The Helena Brown is a large brown butterfly unique to the upland rainforests of the Wet Tropics.
- Its close relatives occur in southern Australia.
- They are commonly seen flying in and out of the forest in summer, amongst the sword grass upon which their larvae feed.
- Other species in the same family include the Australian Lurcher, Cruiser, Australian Leafwing, Australian Vagrant, Red Lacewing, Blue-banded Eggfly, Hamadryad and White Nymph.