Alpine Xenica Butterfly

The Alpine Xenica (Oreixenica sp.) butterfly lives in the mountains of Victoria and New South Wales. They are part of the Satyrini tribe of butterflies, which may have been named for the half-man, half-goat spirits that danced in the woodland glades of Greek mythology.

The future of alpine critters is in our hands. Climate change is causing cold habitats to shrink, leaving dwindling populations stranded on their mountain-top homes, like islands in the sky.

This drawing was featured in the 2019 A4 Art Australia exhibition at Herring Island Gallery.