TamDalton

@triggsturner Thanks. The flash brought out the reflective blue colours I didn't even know were there!!

Apparently our backyard is a breeding ground. There are dozens of empty cocoon! Great experience for my girls! :)

I had the pleasure of watching another of these emerge from their cocoon today (9/5/15). Only took a few minutes to emerge completely. Approx 3-4 inches long.

Mark, that is a large lighter!! She was about 2cm longer that it!! Thanks for the ID. Much appreciated!

Thanks Mark! Her wings are so small, her abdomen so large! I thought she may have exited a little early! I'm going to re-release her at the botanical gardens this evening. My cats and dogs are looking at her like a snack!!

I've read they've been pretty successful, and when I think of it, I haven't seen endless fields of purple for a couple of years now?
Maybe it's them, maybe the big dry is affecting them? (Perhaps a bit of both? :) )

Updated, thanks Mark! 😊

Beautiful!!

I have them in abundance in my back yard! They're quite the little characters!

Thanks, took a bit of digging but I finally found it!