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.
Notes
Macleay’s Swallowtail is a common species throughout eastern Australia. Although primarily a species of moist forests and rainforests, the butterflies are also frequently encountered in suburban areas. They usually fly very rapidly and often high up in the canopy, making them difficult to observe. Only occasionally do they settle closer to the ground to rest or feed from flowers.