This beautiful butterfly is a Richmond birdwing butterfly, which is found in the Burnett Mary region from Kin Kin to the Mt Mee area.  It is listed as vulnerable under
Queensland legislation.  The butterflies are fooled into laying eggs on the exotic
environmental weed; Dutchman’s pipe, which they cannot distinguish from native
species and when the eggs hatch, the larvae are poisoned.  Populations of the butterfly persist wherever native food vines occur in high enough densities, but clearing of
vegetation and weed invasion are big threats.

The Burnett Mary Regional Group is providing funds to undertaken surveys in the Gympie and Sunshine Coast hinterland.  A butterfly workshop is being held in Gympie on the 28th February hosted by Richmond Birdwing Recovery Network Inc.  For more details, go to www.richmondbirdwing.org.au or phone 07 5485 5109