Protographium leosthenes (Four-barred Swallowtail)

Protographium leosthenes leosthenes
Protographium leosthenes geimbia

Other Common Names

Fourbar Swordtail, Kakadu Swordtail, Swallow-tailed Fanny

Notes

I saw at least 4 of these butterflies near the top of Mount Caromba, just inland from Coffs Harbour. However it was a hot, sunny day, and all the butterflies were very frisky indeed. I only had one or two brief chances to get photos of this species.
I next saw a very battered specimen hilltopping at Mount Sugarloaf near Newcastle, NSW. This guy had had a very hard life, and only had about 2 and a half wings remaining. Since flying was difficult for him he was rather easier to photograph…
I finally got a better photo opportunity near Townsville, where a couple of these butterflies were doing their territorial thing at the top of Mount Stuart. It was a partly cloudy day, and during the more prolonged overcast periods the butterflies perched on low shrubs with their wings wide open, and one of them allowed me to get close enough to get some shots. Unfortunately he was not a really fresh specimen and was missing one of his tails. I’d love to get shots of a really good specimen sometime.

Sightings

Mount Caromba, Coffs Harbour – December 2013
Mount Sugarloaf – December 2014
Mount Stuart, Townsville – December 2017
Forty Mile Scrub, QLD – February 2020

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