Graphium macleayanum

Macleay's Swallowtail at Cotter River, ACT

Graphium macleayanum at Cotter River, ACT - 7 Dec 2017
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Identification history

Graphium macleayanum 15 Dec 2017 SuziBond
Graphium macleayanum 12 Dec 2017 JudithRoach
Unidentified 7 Dec 2017 JudithRoach

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User's notes

I hope I've put it properly on the map. It was on the Mount Aggie track. Up along the walking track, away from the carpark, where it was higher. I think these might be Macleay's Swallowtails. They were a bit smaller I thought than the ones I see in East Gippsland. Their behaviour which I hadn't seen before also made photographing and counting them hard. One only settled once for a very bad photo. The rest of the time they were engaging in what seemed to be tussles on the wing, where they would rush together, and spiral, and then break off. One would then fly away, but then either it or another one would appear, and they would tussle again. I've put it down as breeding behaviour. Maybe defending their high patch.

3 comments

SuziBond wrote:
   16 Dec 2017
Well done getting this image, they can be tough butterflies to get photos of!
JudithRoach wrote:
   16 Dec 2017
Thanks, there is another sort of butterfly hill-topping on Mt Macdonald too, which is driving me nuts because it won't stay still for a piccie and ID. Hopefully I'll see it again when it's not so busy brawling with the other butterflies.
SuziBond wrote:
   16 Dec 2017
Good luck!

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Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 2 - image sightings only

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Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii (Woodland Tussock-skink) at Cotter River, ACT - 1 Apr 2019 by Christine
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Jotus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Jotus Jumping Spider) at Cotter River, ACT - 21 Feb 2019 by JudithRoach
Praxibulus sp. (genus) (A grasshopper) at Cotter River, ACT - 21 Feb 2019 by JudithRoach
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Mutillidae (family) (Unidentified Mutillid wasp or velvet ant) at Cotter River, ACT - 21 Feb 2019 by JudithRoach
Perginae sp. (subfamily) (Unidentified pergine sawfly) at Cotter River, ACT - 21 Feb 2019 by JudithRoach
Melobasis sp. (genus) (Unidentified Melobasis jewel Beetle) at Cotter River, ACT - 20 Feb 2019 by JudithRoach
Austroaeschna pulchra (Forest Darner) at Cotter River, ACT - 24 Jan 2019 by JohnBundock
Cerdistus sp. (genus) (Yellow Slender Robber Fly) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by RFYank
Cerdistus sp. (genus) (Yellow Slender Robber Fly) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by RFYank
Diphucrania acuducta (Acuducta jewel beetle) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by HarveyPerkins
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Jan 2019 by HarveyPerkins
Austroaeschna atrata (Mountain Darner) at Cotter River, ACT - 18 Dec 2018 by JohnBundock
Daptolestes limbipennis (Robber fly) at Cotter River, ACT - 7 Dec 2018 by JudithRoach
Daptolestes limbipennis (Robber fly) at Cotter River, ACT - 7 Dec 2018 by JudithRoach
Tanaostigmodes sp. (genus) (Undescribed) (Bossiaea gall wasp) at Cotter River, ACT - 19 Nov 2018 by Christine
Percassa rugifrons (Mountain Grasshopper) at Cotter River, ACT - 19 Nov 2018 by Christine
Melitulias graphicata (Mask Carpet) at Cotter River, ACT - 19 Nov 2018 by Christine
Diphucephala sp. (genus) (Green Scarab Beetle) at Cotter River, ACT - 19 Nov 2018 by Christine
Philobota (genus) (Unidentified Philobota genus moths) at Cotter River, ACT - 19 Nov 2018 by Christine
Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii (Woodland Tussock-skink) at Cotter River, ACT - 19 Nov 2018 by Christine
Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Cotter River, ACT - 19 Nov 2018 by Christine
Exoneura sp. (genus) (A reed bee) at Cotter River, ACT - 18 Nov 2018 by Christine
Dichromodes confluaria (Ceremonial Heath Moth) at Cotter River, ACT - 18 Nov 2018 by Christine
Antasia flavicapitata (Yellow-headed Heath Moth) at Cotter River, ACT - 18 Nov 2018 by JohnBundock
Glaucocharis dilatella (A Crambid moth) at Cotter River, ACT - 18 Nov 2018 by Christine
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Cotter River, ACT - 30 Oct 2018 by JohnBundock
Chrysolarentia polyxantha (Yellow Carpet Moth) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Feb 2018 by HarveyPerkins
Oreixenica lathoniella (Silver Xenica) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Feb 2018 by MatthewFrawley
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Feb 2018 by HarveyPerkins
Heteronympha penelope (Shouldered Brown) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Feb 2018 by MatthewFrawley
Heteronyx dimidiatus (Dimidiatus scarab beetle) at Cotter River, ACT - 4 Feb 2018 by SWishart
Cadmus (Cadmus) litigiosus (Leaf beetle) at Cotter River, ACT - 4 Feb 2018 by SWishart
Acripeza reticulata (Mountain Katydid) at Cotter River, ACT - 4 Feb 2018 by SWishart
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Cotter River, ACT - 10 Jan 2018 by JohnBundock
Ogcodes basalis (A hunch-back fly) at Cotter River, ACT - 14 Dec 2017 by JudithRoach
Melitulias oriadelpha (High-country Carpet) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Dec 2017 by HarveyPerkins
Microtropesa sp. (genus) (Tachinid fly) at Cotter River, ACT - 7 Dec 2017 by JudithRoach
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Cotter River, ACT - 7 Dec 2017 by JudithRoach
Cabasa pulchella (Robber fly) at Cotter River, ACT - 14 Jan 2017 by HarveyPerkins
Zosteria sp. (genus) (Common brown robber fly) at Cotter River, ACT - 14 Jan 2017 by HarveyPerkins
Xyloperga sp. (genus) (Sawfly, Spitfire) at Cotter River, ACT - 7 Jan 2017 by HarveyPerkins
Telephlebia brevicauda (Southern Evening Darner) at Cotter River, ACT - 7 Jan 2017 by HarveyPerkins
Austrelaps ramsayi (Highlands Copperhead) at Cotter River, ACT - 17 Jan 2016 by HarveyPerkins
Mantispidae (family) (Unidentified mantisfly) at Cotter River, ACT - 17 Jan 2016 by HarveyPerkins
Acripeza reticulata (Mountain Katydid) at Cotter River, ACT - 17 Jan 2016 by HarveyPerkins
Gastrimargus musicus (Yellow-winged Locust or Grasshopper) at Cotter River, ACT - 17 Jan 2016 by HarveyPerkins
Elateridae sp. (family) (Unidentified click beetle) at Cotter River, ACT - 16 Jan 2016 by HarveyPerkins
Anthela nicothoe (Urticating Anthelid) at Cotter River, ACT - 22 Mar 2015 by JohnBundock

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 4 - 15 Abundance
  • 7 Dec 2017 01:11 PM Recorded on
  • JudithRoach Recorded by

Additional information

  • 25mm to 50mm Animal size
  • Breeding behaviour Breeding behaviour

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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