Papilio aegeus at ANBG

Orchard Swallowtail at ANBG

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Identification history

	Papilio aegeus	3 Apr 2019	SuziBond
	Papilio aegeus	1 Apr 2019	TimL

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Author's notes

An Orchard Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillar sighted on a Crowea. Thanks to Marcus Leach for the initial sighting.

3 comments

SuziBond wrote:

3 Apr 2019

Hi Tim, this is an unusual observation as Orchard Swallowtail larvae usually eat citrus in Canberra (backyard lemons, limes etc). I'm not aware of them using Crowea before but would have to check. Would it be possible for you to return and track the progress of this caterpillar?

SuziBond wrote:

3 Apr 2019

I should add that Orchard Swallowtails will use other plants from the Rutaceae family, which Crowea belongs to, so this fits.

TimL wrote:

4 Apr 2019

Hi Suzi. Sure, I'll do a few follow-up sightings for you. The caterpillar has been on the Crowea for some days now and was still there yesterday, 2 April. It was quite immobile yesterday so maybe about to pupate (?). I also came across four large Orchard Swallowtail caterpillars in the ANBG Rainforest Gulley this afternoon and they were on a different plant again. RodDeb took images of the caterpillars which will probably be posted by them sometime later today.

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