The Tailed Jay Butterfly

A flash of vibrant green and black darting through the air is likely the energetic Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon). This stunning swallowtail, also known as the Green Spotted Triangle, is one of the most active butterflies in the Ubud jungle. Its wings, covered in bright emerald-green spots against a black background, provide excellent camouflage when resting among foliage.

The Tailed Jay is a notoriously fast and restless flier, constantly fluttering its wings even when feeding on nectar from flowers like Ixora and Lantana. Males are often seen "puddling" on damp soil near streams to absorb minerals. Once primarily a forest species, the Tailed Jay is increasingly common in gardens and urban areas.

This adaptation is thanks to its caterpillars' host plants, which belong to the Annonaceae (custard apple family) and Magnoliaceae (magnolia family). Many trees from these families, like Polyalthia longifolia (False Ashoka) and Michelia alba (White Champaca), are now widely planted ornamentally. Our organic garden, rich with native fruit trees and flowering plants, provides abundant food for both the striking adults and their unique, horned caterpillars, making sightings of this vibrant butterfly a frequent delight.