Butterflies


About Butterflies 


Butterflies are probably the most loved insect group. Their vibrant colours and habit of visiting well planted gardens have prompted the careers of many passionate Lepidopterists. While Australia's butterfly fauna is not as diverse as on other continents, there are interesting endemic groups.
Tropical North Queensland is renowned for its rich diversity, the Wet Tropics, Tablelands and Cape York Peninsula supports 271 species or 68 per cent of the total fauna. New species are still being described. Many species such as the spectacular Ulysses Swallowtail and Cairns Birdwing are associated with rainforest. Diversity decreases markedly in drier habitats.
Careful garden plantings with both food and host plants will attract many colourful species. Sixty per cent of the photographs in this gallery are from gardens in Kuranda and Mossman.



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Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio aegeus) Male
Orchard Swallowtail (Papilo aegeus) Male
Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio aegeus) Female
Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio aegeus) Female

Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio aegeus) Larva
Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio aegeus) Pupa



Ulysses Swallowtail (Papilio ulysses)

Ulysses Swallowtail (Papilio ulysses)

Ulysses Swallowtail (Papilio ulysses)

Ulysses Swallowtail (Papilio ulysses) Larva

Cairns Birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion) Female
Cairns Birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion) Female
Cairns Birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion) Male


Cairns Birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion) Male
in flight

Cairns Birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion) Male



Cairns Birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion) Male
Red Bodied Swallowtail (Pachliopta polydorus)


Red Bodied Swallowtail (Pachliopta polydorus)


Ambrax Swallowtail (Papillo ambrax)
Clearwing Swallowtail (Cressida cressida) Female


Clearwing Swallowtail (Cressida cressida) Male

Macleay's Swallowtail (Graphium macleayanus)
Chequered Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus) (Male)
Chequered Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus) (Male)

Blue Triangle (Graphium sarpedon) Female
Blue Triangle (Graphium sarpedon) Male


Green Triangle (Graphium macfarlanei)

Green Triangle (Graphium macfarlanei) in flight

Meadow Argus (Junonia villida) Wet season form


Blue Argus (Junonia orithya)

Orange Bush Brown (Mycalesis terminus) Wet season form

Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi)
Vagrant in south of region

Chocolate Argus (Junonia hedonia) Wet season form


Common Grass Blue (Zizina labradus)
Scalloped Grass Yellow (Eurema alitha)

Large Green Banded Blue (Danis danis)

Two-spotted Line-blue (Nacaduba biocellata)

Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona) Male


Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona) Female pale form

Blue Banded Egg-fly (Hypolimnas alimena) Male

Blue Banded Egg-fly (Hypolimnas alimena) Female


Varied Egg-fly (Hypolimnas bolina)  Female

Varied Egg-fly (Hypolimnas bolina) Male


Varied Egg-fly (Hypolimnas bolina) Male

Common Crow (Euploea core)
Common Crow (Euploea core)

Leafwing (Doleschallia bisaltide)

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

Cruiser (Vindula arsinoe)  Female

Cruiser (Vindula arsinoe) Male

Cruiser (Vindula arsinoe)  Female emerging.



Red Lacewing (Cethosia cydippe)
emerging.


Red Lacewing (Cethosia cydippe)


Helana Brown (Tisiphone helana)


Helana Brown (Tisiphone helana)

Tailed Rustic (Vagrans egista)

Tailed Rustic (Vagrans egista)


Bordered Rustic (Cupha prosope)  Wet season form

Lurcher (Yoma sabina)
Orange Plane (Pantoporia consimilis)


White Banded Plane (Phaedyma sheperdi)
White Banded Plane (Phaedyma sheperdi)

Blue Tiger (Tirumala hamata)

Swamp Tiger (Danaus affinis)


Swamp Tiger (Danaus affinis)

Black Jezabel (Delias nigrina)


Yellow-banded Jezabel (Delias ennia)
Red-banded Jezabel (Delias mysis)

Caper White (Belenois java) Male

Common Albatross (Appias paulina)

Orange Albatross (Appias ada)

Caper Gull (Cepora perimale)

Orchid Flash (Hypolycaena danis)
Yellow Palm Dart (Cephrenes trichopepla)
Northern Sedge-darter (Telicota eurotas)
Splendid Ochre (Trapezites sombra)

Regent Skipper (Euschemon raffesia)