Our Mission Beach accommodation's namesake is the Apollo Jewel butterfly. This beautiful
butterfly is native to only a handful of places in tropical North Queensland from Cooktown
to Ingham. The butterfly suffers from being a highly specialised species in that it only
resides in coastal paperbark swamps and mangroves with Ant Plants. Fortunately, South Mission
Beach still offers these conditions for the butterfly so we are blessed with its
presence.
The butterfly is further restricted by its interaction with native ants in the
Ant Plants. The caterpillars share galleries in the Ant Plants with small ants
that feed on fluid produced by the larvae. The caterpillars, meanwhile, feed
from the flesh of the Ant Plant until full grown when the larva cuts an exit
hole and pupates inside the plant. Unfortunately, introduced species of ants
that do not interact with the caterpillars and harvesting of Ant Plants by
collectors is harming this delicate natural balance.