Ulysses

A very recognizable butterfly. It is velvety black with two thirds of its wings a brilliant metallic blue. Female colouring appears slightly duller. They fly high and you can see the splashes of brilliant colour. When at rest, the wings are closed, looking almost ‘shadowy’ to avoid detection.

The males are especially attracted to blue objects, even from a distance of 30 metres.

Scientific Name

Papilio ulysses

Feeds On

Euodia or Evodia (Melicope elleryana)

Usual Location

Coastal North Queensland Rainforests

Best Viewing

February to May

Wing Span

10 cm

Caterpillar

Fully grown caterpillar is shiny green with several white creamy blotches and a slight blue patch visible within each segment as it moves.

Chrysalis

Attached by its tail to a pad of silk, the chrysalis also has a girdle around its middle. The chrysalis is sometimes green or it could be light brown with a tinge of orange. Its head has two prominent horns.