Caterpillar

The caterpillar of the Cairns Birdwing butterfly is designed to look threatening to its predators. The spikes all over its body are actually soft to touch but are a great deterrant to enemies. The bright colours also act as a warning signal telling predators to keep away.

Cairns Birdwing butterfly

The female birdwing is the largest butterfly in Australia, pictured left is the brilliantly coloured male birdwing, keep a look out for them as you wander through the rainforests of the Tropical North. They feed on nectar from forest flowers and gardens.

Peppermint Stick Insect

The rare peppermint stick insect is found only in Tropical North Queensland. It gives off a peppermint scent when frightened or in danger, which gives it its name. They're excellent at camouflaging and are found on pandanus plants in lowland coastal rainforest areas. They are sometimes seen at Etty Bay and Cape Tribulation.

Giant Prickly Stick insect

There are many, many species of weird and wonderful 'stick' insects in the Tropical North. This is a female Macleay's Spectre also known as the giant prickly stick insect. They're found in the rainforest of Tropical North Queensland, the males are green and the females are larger and light brown. They are quite friendly and although they look very spiky they're actually quite soft to touch!

Golden Orb Spider

There are lots of spiders, large and small in Tropical North Queensland. Most of the spiders aren't venomous but it's always best to be cautious when you see a spider, just in case. Pictured left is a golden orb spider which makes its large webs in the rainforest, trapping insects as they fly by. Another rainforest spider is the enormous Australian tarantula, or bird eating spider, one of the largest spiders in the world!

Ulysses butterfly

Of all the butterflies of the Tropical North region the Ulysses is probably the best known. Its iridescent blue wings make it easy to spot as it flutters through the rainforest from flower to flower gathering nectar and pollinating as it goes. The Ulysses butterfly is protected in Queensland to regulate the number of these butterflies being collected. They are quite common though as many surburban gardens have planted their host tree the Euodia.

Green ant

Green ants are amazing creatures, they make their nest from leaves and work together to bind the leaves with a sticky substance that they produce. They are fiercely protective of their nests and will sting anyone who comes too close. Some aboriginals regard them as a bush tucker delicacy, boiling their abdomens to make green ant tea.