5 butterfly species in the Daintree Rainforest

Discover the Daintree Rainforest’s most amazing butterflies!

The Daintree Rainforest may be the oldest rainforest in the world and thousands of beautiful butterflies live in the tropical area. 65% of Australian butterfly species can be found in the Daintree Rainforest! This is about 230 out of 435 Australian butterfly species in the area!

1. Ulysses butterfly

You can easily spot out these Ulysses butterflies from the bright blue with black trimming around the wings. The large swallowtail butterflies are about 14 centimetres in wingspan, making them one of the biggest in the rainforest. It is best to view these butterflies between February to May when they are hanging around flowering plants in the rainforest.

2. Delias mysis butterfly

Also known as the Union Jack or red banded jezebel is a gorgeous white butterfly with a dash of black, yellow and red. The butterfly is about six centimetres in wingspan.

3. Cruiser butterfly

The cruiser butterflies are an orange and brown colour with black details and eyespots. The eyespots help protect the butterflies from any predators such as snakes, birds, and lizards. These butterflies have a wingspan of about eight centimetres!

4. Birdwing butterfly

Part of the swallowtail family, the birdwing butterflies are very eye catching and are one of the biggest butterflies! It will be hard to miss seeing one of these fluttering by with the 15 centimetre wingspan length and the bright colours. The butterflies have a splash of bright colours like light green, yellow, blue, and red, with black trims.

5. Red bodied swallowtail

Known as the ruby swallowtail are mainly black butterflies with spots of red and a bit of white. The body of these butterflies is bright red, so it is hard to miss them while they rest on plants or a tree trunk. These butterflies can reach about 11.5 centimetres in wingspan.

Butterflies love warmth, so you will expect to see them all year round in the tropical rainforest. The best time to see them is during the wet season between November to April. Exploring the Daintree Rainforest in the afternoon will be your best bet to spot some of these most beautiful butterflies.

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.