Graphium agamemnon (Green-spotted Triangle)

Synonyms

This species was originally classified as Papilio agamemnon

Notes

This is another species that I have seen several times in Cairns, but had never been able to photograph. It wasn’t until September 2008 that I got some pics of one nectaring on lantanas at Fishery Falls, south of Cairns. They’re not good photos, but as with other Graphium species this butterfly does not like to sit still and co-operate.

In April 2011 I saw a large number of these butterflies, especially in the Cairns Botanic Garden and the Blue/Red Arrow walks on Mount Whitmore; unfortunately I didn’t get a single shot of any of these adults on that entire trip.

I’d go so far as to say that this has been the single most frustrating species I’ve seen, given the number of them I’ve seen on the wing in comparison to the small number and paucity of photos I’ve managed to take.  Oddly enough, on various Facebook Groups I see any number of shots of these butterflies, almost entirely from overseas where it is usually called the Tailed Jay.

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