The larvae of this species are sometimes considered a pest, due to their feeding on citrus leaves in suburban gardens.

The front wings of the dark form are almost completely black and the hindwings have a smaller white patch.

The female lays creamy white, smooth, spherical eggs with an approximate diameter of 0.5 millimetres individually on the upper surface of the leaves and shoots of host plants,[7] primarily tropical to subtropical members of the family Rutaceae,[8] which includes introduced and native citrus.

[8] The early instars are brown with three white patches, one the: thorax, above the first pair of prolegs, and one on 8th and 9th segment of the abdomen.

Feeding usually takes place during the day and resting on the upperside of leaves during the night, resembling fresh bird droppings.

[3] The later instars are green with irregular white, yellow or brown markings that run diagonally up/back from the bottom edge of the thorax to the 4th and 6th segments.

Like other swallowtail butterflies, when disturbed, the caterpillar erects its bright red osmeterium from behind the head, releasing the smell of citrus, to drive predators away.

[1] The larvae are known to naturally use species the following Australian-native taxa as food plants: Boronia, Citrus, Clausena, Dinosperma, Eriostemon, Flindersia, Geijera, Halfordia, Leionema, Micromelum, Philotheca, Zanthoxylum and Zieria In addition, larvae have also been recorded using introduced species of the following taxa as food plants: Choisya, Citrus, Murraya, Poncirus and Zanthoxylum Caterpillars also accept leaves from Parsley and Cryptocarya glauscens however female butterflies do not appear to lay eggs on these plants.