These butterflies are common visitors to gardens in their range during warm weather, right up until May each year. Backyard Buddies (www.backyardbuddies.net.au), a free program run by Australia's Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, says it's easy to be a buddy to these stunning butterflies with a few simple tips.

"The easiest way to attract Dainty Swallowtail butterflies is with citrus plants," said Steve Corbett, CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.

"These butterflies, also known as Dingy Swallowtails or Small Citrus Butterflies, absolutely love citrus including non-natives such as the humble lemon or orange tree."

"With their black wings spotted with white, orange and pale blue, Swallowtails are gorgeous garden visitors. You can encourage them to stay around your garden by also providing nectar bearing plants and flowers for them to feed on.

"Butterflies love purple, orange, yellow and red coloured flowers that that are shallow enough for them to easily reach the nectar inside," Mr Corbett said.

"You can also make a good home for butterflies by putting out flat rocks for them to sun themselves on and court each other, and by creating some muddy puddles or moist sand for them to get essential salts from."

"Butterflies are a beautiful sight but they are also great to have in your garden as they attract birds which help control insect numbers. Butterflies are also often an indicator that the local environment is healthy."