Macleay’s Swallowtail (Graphium macleayanus)
Appearance: Unmistakable. Both sexes are red-brown with extended, light green patches and spots and a long tail on the hind wing.
Wingspan: 5–6 cm
Season: Usually 2 generations in NSW in spring/summer.
Range: Eastern Australia; from Cape York Peninsula through eastern QLD, eastern NSW, the ACT, central VIC, and parts of TAS.
Habitat: Usually rainforest, beech forest, eucalypt forest, and sub-alpine woodland. Also suburban gardens and parks.
Photo: Sydney, NSW, 05 / 04 / 2008.
Notes
Macleay’s Swallowtail is a common species throughout eastern Australia. Although primarily a species of moist forests, the butterflies are commonly encountered in suburban areas. They usually fly very rapidly and only occasionally settle to rest or feed from flowers.