Papilio aegeus aegeus (Orchard Butterfly)

Southern Downs Buterflies & MothsAloa marginata (Donovan’s Tiger Moth) Amata trigonophora (Tiger Moth) Candalides xanthospilos (Yellow-spot Blue) Cephonodes kingii (Day Flying Hawk Moth) Genduara punctigera (Crexa Moth) Opodiphthera loranthi (Emperor Moth) Papilio aegeus aegeus (Orchard Butterfly) Tirumala hamata (Blue Tiger)

Species Papilio aegeus, is known as the Orchard Swallowtail Butterfly or Large Citrus Butterfly. Observations (in Atlas of Living Australia) have their main distribution areas as the east coast regions of Australia, with a couple of sightings in the south-west of Western Australia, Central Australia and the Top End of Australia.

The larvae of this species are considered a pest, as they feed on citrus leaves.

Pictured here is the female Papilio aegeus aegeus. The female of the species have a series of blue and red crescent-shaped markings on their hind wings, whilst the same area on the hind wings of the male are black with cream-white patch and a single red spot on the hind wings.

The view from above of early instar (Orchard Butterfly caterpillar).

The front end view of early instar (Orchard Butterfly caterpillar).

The back end view of the early instar (Orchard Butterfly caterpillar).

Following is one of the caterpillar stages of the Orchard Butterfly.

If disturbed, the Orchard Butterfly caterpillars will rear up at the front, and briefly evert a red-orange forked “tentacle” (known as the osmeterium) from behind the head. This eversion is often very brief, and at the same time, the caterpillars will also emit a foul smell to deter predators (the emission is said to have a citrus smell).

The defence mechanism is called osmeterium. I had to poke its face with my finger to do this but it was partially retracted by the time I got the camera ready.