Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus

When European settlers planted citrus orchards across eastern Australia, they accidentally created a haven for this butterfly. Citrus turned out to be a perfect larval food plant, and a species that once specialized in native forest trees quickly adapted to suburban gardens. Today it's one of the most familiar large butterflies in Australian backyards.

One of its most remarkable features is how strikingly different the males and females look — females mimic toxic crow butterflies with dark, intricately patterned wings, while males sport the classic bold swallowtail pattern. The resemblance is so convincing that the two sexes were once classified as entirely separate species. Even experienced naturalists occasionally do a double-take when male and female perch side by side.