Papilio aegeus at Bega, NSW

Papilio aegeus

Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly at Bega, NSW

Request use of media

Identification history

Unidentified

4 Apr 2020

bensmythology

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

Found a few of these on my lemon tree. Started as the very small black and white colouring before turning green when a lot larger. A swallowtail I think?

2 comments

JackieMiles wrote:

5 Apr 2020

Hi Ben, Correct, Orchard Swallowtail. As you point out, the younger larvae are more cryptic, looking rather like a bird dropping, then they get more obviously caterpillars as they get larger, though with those smears of white, there's still a hint of the bird dropping disguise there. They must do a lot better since Europeans arrived with our exotic citrus trees. They're quite a common sight in towns, flapping leisurely along.

bensmythology wrote:

6 Apr 2020

Thanks Jackie. Lovely. Looking forward to watching these develop further and emerge from their chrysalis in coming weeks. Taking a daily image I hope to convert into a timelapse-type video

Please Login or Register to comment.

Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 1 - image sightings only 1 0 1

Papilio anactus (Dainty Swallowtail) at Bega, NSW - 4 Apr 2020 by bensmythology

Location information

Coordinates 149.843048 -36.683567
Altitude 33.0m
Places Bega, NSW

Species information

Not Sensitive
Local Native
Non-Invasive

Sighting information

4 - 15 Abundance
4 Apr 2020 11:33 AM Recorded on
bensmythology Recorded by