Butterflies are common visitors to backyards and a wide variety of species drop in to feed on nectar from blossoms. Some are regular garden-dwellers, their caterpillars feeding on widely grown garden plants or street trees. A few species are even pests of citrus, palms and vegetables.

Common Crow, Euploea corinna
Caterpillars are boldly striped with four pairs of tentacles. In Brisbane gardens, they feed mostly on oleanders and figs. The pupa is brilliant metallic silver and suspended beneath a leaf.

Orange Palmdart, Cephrenes augiades
Caterpillars are pale green with banded heads. They feed on palms, sewing adjacent leaflets together to form feeding retreats. When the caterpillars pupate inside the same shelter they produce a whitish, floury deposit.

Blue Triangle, Graphium choredon
Breeds on introduced Camphor Laurel trees (Cinnamomum camphora). Caterpillars are pale green and lie inconspicuously along the upper midrib of leaves.

Orchard Swallowtail, Papilio aegeus
Caterpillars feed on the leaves of citrus plants. Young caterpillars are brown and white and resemble bird droppings. Older caterpillars are 'camouflage' green. When disturbed, the caterpillars extrude reddish tentacles from their heads and emit a strong smell.

Cabbage White, Pieris rapae
Caterpillars are pale green with a thin yellowish line down the back. A pest of cruciferous crops such as cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli.

Plumbago Blue, Leptotes plinius
The adult butterflies are rarely found far from Plumbago plants, including the common garden ornamental, Plumbago auriculata. Their flattened green caterpillars feed on the buds and flowers.

Evening Brown, Melanitis leda
Green caterpillars have brown heads with a pair of long horns. Feed on a wide variety of grasses. Adults fly at dusk and rest on the ground during the day.