SOUTH East Queensland's largest and most spectacular butterfly could be out in force over coming months, if conditions south of the border are anything to go by.

That’s according to an ecologist currently doing field work in Northern NSW where he is monitoring several insect species, among them the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly.

With a wingspan of up to 16 centimetres and a palette of iridescent green, blue yellow and spots of crimson red splashed upon a black backdrop, the Richmond Birdwing makes for a striking encounter.

And once upon a time, such encounters were common.

Reports from the 1870s indicate the Richmond Birdwing was abundant in the streets of Brisbane.

Historically it was found as far north as Maryborough and as far south as Grafton.

Today, less than one percent of its subtropical rainforest habitat stands and the species is classed as Vulnerable to extinction.

But the butterfly has been the beneficiary of sustained conservation efforts for more than a decade from government departments and groups of committed volunteers, chiefly the Richmond Birdwing Conservation Network.

Key to the butterflies survival are the fortunes of two related native Pararistolochia plants: the Mountain Birdwing and Richmond Birdwing Butterfly vines.

Other than the Dutchman's Pipe Vine, an introduced and toxic species which kills the Richmond Birdwing, the two Pararistolochia are the only plants upon which the butterflies will lay their eggs and the only on which their caterpillars will feed.

The young larvae also require fresh growth on the vines, which is why the butterfly lays its eggs on the underside of the Pararistolochia leaves chiefly from September to March.

And with rain bucketing across large parts of Northern NSW, the vines are putting out plenty of fresh leaves.

Dr Penn Lloyd is currently looking for threatened invertebrates at one of Biodiversity Assessment and Management survey sites outside of Ballina.

“There were certainly a lot of Birdwing larvae last year, but this year they seem to be starting early with lots of eggs and very small caterpillars,” he said. 

“The vines are growing really well, so it all looks like a great season for the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly.”

While his observations were based south of the border, the Brisbane-based ecologist said the recent rain in South East Queensland would make for a similar scenario north of the Tweed.

Mount Tamborine is part of one of the few remaining strongholds for the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly.

Dr Lloyd is also surveying for Southern Pink Underwing Moth and the Atlas Rainforest Ground Beetle.