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Cairns birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion): Australia's largest endemic butterfly. Australia has more than 400 species of butterfly, the majority of which are continental species, and more than a dozen endemic species from remote islands administered by various Australian territorial governments.
Phreatia crassiuscula, commonly known as the green caterpillar orchid, [2] is a plant in the orchid family and is an epiphyte or lithophyte with three to six fleshy, channelled leaves in a fan-like arrangement. Up to sixty tiny white, cream-coloured or greenish flowers are arranged along a curved flowering stem.
Polyura (pyrrhus) sempronius, the tailed emperor, is a large butterfly by Australian standards, with a wingspan of some 75 mm for males and 85 mm for females. [1] The uncommon but widespread [2] butterfly occurs in a variety of habitat types [2] in northern and eastern Australia, where it occurs predominantly in the warm and subtropical coastal regions.
The eggs hatch into caterpillars about 6 days after being laid. Earlier instars are yellow with a black head capsule. [5] After feeding on their hostplant and growing in size, the caterpillars have a light green color. After almost a month of growth, the caterpillars are around 10 mm long (.4 in). [2]
Caterpillars reach about 7 mm in length, and their appearance is primarily green with a yellow stripe at the sides and a darker green stripe on the back, and brown or black head usually obscured under the thorax. [6] In captivity, fed on an artificial diet, larvae come in highly variable colours, ranging from white through red to dark purple. [5]
Over 140 species of butterfly that are found in the south-eastern Australian state of Victoria. This list includes native and introduced species and subspecies. This list includes native and introduced species and subspecies.
A closely allied species, the New Guinea or Priam's birdwing (Ornithoptera priamus) reaches 19 cm (7.5 in) and is the largest butterfly species found in Australia, but it is not endemic. O. euphorion is quite closely related to O. richmondia, differing by its greater size and more extensive green markings in the male. [3]
The first instar: Caterpillar larvae vary in size and are capable of being between 1.5-2.0mm in length. [3] At this stage a hatchling lacks its characteristic coloring and instead tends to be a translucent lime green with green or black tentacles and green protuberances along the skirt which lack the long spiny thorns that are seen in older ...