Clearwing Swallowtail (Big Greasy) Cressida cressida
Wingspan: female 70mm - male 80mm

Sighted at Claire Cottage:  Aug to Apr

Distribution: northern areas of NT, all of eastern QLD including CYP, coastal NSW.

Status: uncommon on the Dorrigo Plateau

Clearwing Swallowtail male at Claire Cottage, feeding on Rosemary flowers which show through its wings, 16 Sep 2016, 2.11 pm

The same male in our garden showing the beautiful red markings, Claire Cottage, 16 Sep 2016, 2.11 pm

Clearwing Swallowtail male, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 21 Aug 2021, 2.45 pm

A close-up of the male Clearwing Swallowtail 's head, Claire Cottage, 16 Sep 2016.

Clearwing Swallowtail feeding on Eriostemon sp. Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 22 Aug, 1.41 pm

Female Clearwing Swallowtail near Dorrigo, 9 Dec 2014, 11.13 am (Photo Ros Coy)

Another shot of the female Clearwing near Dorrigo, 9 Dec 2014 (Photo Ros Coy)

A male feeding on Grevillea, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 22 Aug 2021, 1.43 pm

Clearwing Swallowtail male, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 21 Aug 2021, 2.45 pm

Clearwing Swallowtail male, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, 21 Aug 2021 1.33pm

A male Clearwing Swallowtail feeding on Eriostemon sp., Claire Cottage, Dorrigo NSW, 22 Aug 2021, 1.41 pm

A larva that has just changed its skin, late Nov 2018, near Grafton (Photo Pete Richards)

Larval foodplant Aristolochia meridionalis, late Nov 2018, near Grafton (Photo Pete Richards)

Clearwing Swallowtail (Big Greasy) Cressida cressida
Wingspan: female 70mm - male 80mm

Distribution: Some northern areas of WA & NT, all of coastal eastern QLD including CYP, coastal NSW.

Status: uncommon on the Dorrigo Plateau

Butterfly Sightings: (all males) 

• CLAIRE COTTAGE:  Aug(m) 2006, 2021(3):   Sep(m) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012(2), 2013, 2016(2), 2019, 2020, 2021m&f, Oct(m) 2005 m-newly hatched, 2012, 2020; Feb(m) 2002; Apr(m) 2010;

• DORRIGO PLATEAU:  We have not seen this species elsewhere on the Dorrigo Plateau.

Larva Sightings: 

• CLAIRE COTTAGE:  None to date
• DORRIGO PLATEAU:  None to date

Larval food plants:

• CLAIRE COTTAGE: ARISTOLOCHIACEAE - Pararistolochia praevenosa
• DORRIGO PLATEAU: (no known food plants growing in the wild on the Plateau)

• ELSEWHERE: ARISTOLOCHIACEAE - Aristolochia holtzei (in NT), A. acuminata, A. chalmersii, A. meridonalis, A. pibera, A. thozetii, Pararistolochia praevenosa (in QLD).

​Known Larval Food Plants:  Whilst Pararistolochia praevenosa has been planted at Claire Cottage and does well here the most southerly known food plant growing naturally in the wild is Aristolochia e (but none are known to be growing this far south of Grafton).

Interesting Information

We have only sighted males on our property. They have usually been in a hurry flying broadly in a southerly direction and usually not taking time out to feed.

However our most recent sightings were exceptions –​ a male on 05/09/16 at 03.15 pm and another on 16/09/16 at 01.00 pm. Both days were warm and sunny with temperatures in the 18-20°C range.

The first was feeding on Eriostemon australasius which was in full flower. The butterfly took flight before we could return with a camera. On this occasion it flew due north over our rainforest.

The second one stopped with us for many minutes and fed on Rosemary which was also in full flower.  It would glide and then fly to gain height over the house or trees appearing to circuit the garden and return to the Rosemary. Finally we were able to get some photos of a Cressida cressida here at Claire Cottage. 

As none of the Clearwing Swallowtail's known food plants are thought to grow naturally on or near the Dorrigo Plateau we have only made rare sightings here. Our few sightings at Claire Cottage have always been of males. The butterflies seldom stay with us for more than a few moments. Understanding why males come this far south if their larval food plant does not grow south of Grafton is a mystery still to be solved.​

August 20th/21st/22nd 2021, in the midday period, we sighted a male each day. They all stopped to feed on Eriostemon australasius. Each day the temperature at this time was in the 20C - 21C range.
August 27th 2021, Carol found a dead male close to the fencing around our enclosed vegetable garden - we had just experienced several heavy frost nights.
September 11th 2021, we both witnessed our first female here at Claire Cottage, it flew around the garden 2-3 metres above ground level remaining with us for just a minute or so. It did not attempt to feed and flew into the rainforest edge and out of sight.

First warm season sighting: 20/08/21