Chequered Swallowtail Butterfly - in Kangaloon

This afternoon, I was down on Tourist Road, in Kangaloon, when I spotted a fellow sufferer - a person wandering along alone; looking at the ground; with a camera in hand.


Naturally we hit up a conversation, and shared some tips about what to see, where. Orchids, mostly, but also other things too. It's nice to share ideas and experiences.


Anyway, my colleague has sharper eyes than I do, and she spotted this wonderful Butterfly. Chequered Swallowtail  (Papilio demoleus)

Chequered Swallowtail Butterfly

It was remarkably tame, and allowed us to take many photographs.
Don Herbison-Evans comments: "Usually seen rapidly flying in one direction at a constant height, they only occasionally land, and catching one is a real thrill." So I consider myself lucky to get so close to this one.

Chequered Swallowtail Butterfly -  a lovely creature

 The Chew Family Brisbane Insects and Spiders site notes the lines on the abdomen of this Butterfly as distinctive. I was pleased to be able to get this image, from the side.

Abdomen of the Chequered Swallowtail Butterfly

Here one can see something of the underside of the Butterfly's wings. 

It was a large Butterfly, and it is related to the familiar Orchard Butterfly.

That ought give you some sense of the size.

Chequered Swallowtail Butterfly - underwings

Then when I returned home, I received an email from another friend and Orchid colleague, Kirsten, who had been to the Brindabella Ranges (beyond Canberra) last weekend. She had found the same Butterfly as I had just photographed.


Clearly, there is a seasonal factor which produced the result that two separate observers, several hundred kilometres apart, were able to approach this normally unapproachable Butterfly. The Butterflies do not read Don Herbison-Evans' website.

Kirsten's photo of the Chequered Swallowtail Butterfly

 This image by Kirsten shows the 

diagnostic "eye spot" which is yellow and blue.

The Chew Family describes it as a "peacock eye mark" on the underwing.

Kirsten's Chequered Swallowtail Butterfly on a Thistle plant.

This Butterfly is an international species.
I am not sure if it is introduced, or native with a wide distribution. Looks like it is naturally occurring, especially as Kirsten found it in the Brindabellas, and I found it in Kangaloon on native grass. There are few introduced Butterflies expected in either locality.