Graphium sarpedon choredon Click to enlarge image
Blue Triangle Butterfly, Graphium sarpedon choredon Image: R.Jessop
© R.Jessop

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Graphium
    Species
    sarpedon choredon
    Subfamily
    Papilioninae
    Family
    Papilionidae
    Super Family
    Papilionoidea
    Order
    Lepidoptera
    Class
    Insecta
    Subphylum
    Uniramia
    Phylum
    Arthopoda
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    6.6-7.5 cm

The Blue Triangle Butterfly is an active butterfly moving quickly from flower to flower.

Identification

Commonly seen in Sydney gardens, the Blue Triangle Butterfly's triangular-shaped wings are vibrant turquoise-blue with black around the margins.


Blue Triangle Butterfly

Blue Triangle Butterfly, Graphium sarpedon choredon

Image: Debbie Keen
© Debbie L. Keen

Habitat

The Blue Triangle Butterfly is found in urban areas, forests and woodlands. Although preferring moist rainforest habitats, this species has survived well in Sydney's suburbs.

Distribution

The Blue Triangle Butterfly is found in Eastern Australia, from Torres Strait and Cape York in Queensland to about 160 km south of Sydney.



Feeding and diet

The caterpillars of the Blue Triangle Butterfly have adapted to feed on a variety of plants including the introduced Camphor Laurel, Cinnamomum camphora.

Other behaviours and adaptations

The green Blue Triangle Butterfly larvae rest on the upperside of the leaves and can be difficult to see. If the plant is disturbed, you are more likely to smell them before you see them. Many caterpillars in this family (Papilionidae) have an 'osmeterium', which looks like a fleshy horn that pops up from a slit behind their head and emits a strong smell. In this species the osmeterium is yellow, but in other species it may be red.