Birdwing
Encyclopedia
Birdwings are papilionid
butterflies
native to the Indian Subcontinent
, mainland and archipelagic Southeast Asia
and Australasia
, and are usually regarded as belonging to three genera
: Ornithoptera, Trogonoptera and Troides. Some authorities include additional genera. The exact number of species is debated, but most recent authorities recognize between 30 and 40. Birdwings are named for their exceptional size, angular wings, and birdlike flight.
Included among the birdwings are some of the largest butterflies in the world: the largest, Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
(Ornithoptera alexandrae); the second largest, the Goliath Birdwing
(O. goliath); and the largest butterfly endemic to Australia
, the Cairns Birdwing
(O. euphorion). Another well-known species is Rajah Brooke's Birdwing (Trogonoptera brookiana), a particularly attractive species named after Sir James Brooke
, the first White Rajah
of 19th century Sarawak
.
Due to their size and bright colours, they are popular among collectors of butterflies, but all birdwings are now listed by CITES, thereby limiting (and in the case of O. alexandrae completely banning) international trade.
Troides darsius
, popularly known as the Sri Lanka Birdwing, is the National Butterfly of Sri Lanka
.
n O. meridionalis
and O. paradisea
), the hindwings lack tails. Sexual dimorphism
is strong in Ornithoptera species only, where males are black combined with bright iridescent green, blue, orange or yellow while the larger and less colourful females are overall black or dark brownish with white, pale brown or yellow markings.
Males and females of most Troides birdwings are similar and have jet black to brown dorsal forewings, often with the vein
s bordered in grey to creamy-white. At least one of these darkly-coloured species (T. rhadamathus) possesses thermoreceptor
s on the anal veins (A2 and A3) of the wings and on the antenna
l clubs. The antennal receptors of the clubs—which also possess hygroreceptors that measure atmospheric humidity
—are known as sensilla basiconica. The thermoreceptors are sensitive to sudden increases in temperature; they are thought to help the butterfly thermoregulate
and avoid overheating while basking.
The colours of most species are pigment
ary (via papiliochrome); but two species, Troides magellanus
and the much rarer T. prattorum, are noted for their use of limited-view iridescence
: the yellow of the dorsal hindwings is modified by bright blue-green iridescence which is only seen when the butterfly is viewed at a narrow, oblique angle. This "grazing iridescence" is brought about through diffraction
of light
(after back-reflection) by the wings' extremely steeply-set, multilayered rib-like scale
s (rather than the ridge-lamellae of most other iridescent butterflies, such as Morpho
species). Such limited-view iridescence was previously only known from one other species, the lycaenid
Ancyluris meliboeus
. In A. meliboeus, however, the iridescence is produced by ridge-lamellar scales and features a wider range of colours.
The close evolutionary relationship between Troides and Ornithoptera butterflies is well demonstrated by the fact that commercial breeders have produced numerous hybrid specimens between the two.
The final and smallest genus is Trogonoptera with just two species. They resemble each other, being overall black with iridescent green markings and a red head. Females are duller than males.
s and adults are usually glimpsed along the forest periphery. They feed upon—and are important long-range pollinator
s of—nectar-bearing flower
s of the forest canopy, as well as terrestrial flowers, such as lantana
. They are strong flyers and seek sunlit spots in which to bask.
Breeding behaviour varies little between species: the female's role is relatively passive, slowly fluttering from perch to perch while the male performs an elaborate, quivering yet stationary dance 20–50 cm above her. After mating
, females immediately begin to seek appropriate host plants; climbing vine
s of the genera Aristolochia
and Pararistolochia
(both in the family Aristolochiaceae
) are sought exclusively. The female lays her spherical eggs
under the tips of the vine's leaves, one egg per leaf.
The caterpillar
s are voracious eaters but move very little; a small group will defoliate an entire vine. If starved due to overcrowding, the caterpillars may resort to cannibalism
. Fleshy spine-like tubercles line the caterpillars' backs, and their bodies are dark red to brown. Some species have tubercles of contrasting colours, or pale "saddle" markings. Like other members of their family, birdwing caterpillars possess a retractable organ behind their heads called an osmeterium
. Shaped like the forked tongue
of a snake
, the osmeterium excretes a fetid terpene
-based compound and is deployed when the caterpillar is provoked. The caterpillars are also unappealing to most predators due to their toxicity: the vines which the caterpillars feed upon contain aristolochic acid
, a poison
ous compound known to be carcinogen
ic in rat
s. The feeding caterpillars incorporate and concentrate the aristolochic acid into their tissues, where the poison will persist through metamorphosis and into adulthood.
Birdwing chrysalids are camouflage
d to look like a dead leaf or twig. Before pupa
ting, the caterpillars may wander considerable distances from their host plants. In O. alexandrae, it takes ca. four months to get from egg to adult. Barring predation, this species can also survive up to three months as an adult.
With the exception of Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
(O. alexandrae), all birdwings are listed in Appendix II of CITES, and accordingly their trade is restricted in countries that have signed the CITES convention. Exceptions are made for captive-reared specimens, which mainly originate from ranches in Papua New Guinea
and Indonesia
. Most species of all three genera have now been reared in captivity, though with significant differences in the quantities reared of each species. O. alexandrae is listed on Appendix I and therefore cannot legally be traded internationally. At the 2006 meeting of the CITES Animals Committee some suggested O. alexandrae should be moved to Appendix II, as the conservation benefits of sustainable management perhaps are higher than those of the trade ban.
Richmond Birdwing (O. richmondia) depend on the plant Aristolochia praevenosa which they need for their caterpillars. However, the very similar Aristolochia elegans (Dutchman's Pipe) which can be found in many Australian backyards, kills the caterpillars.
Swallowtail butterfly
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
butterflies
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
native to the Indian Subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
, mainland and archipelagic Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
, and are usually regarded as belonging to three genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
: Ornithoptera, Trogonoptera and Troides. Some authorities include additional genera. The exact number of species is debated, but most recent authorities recognize between 30 and 40. Birdwings are named for their exceptional size, angular wings, and birdlike flight.
Included among the birdwings are some of the largest butterflies in the world: the largest, Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is the largest butterfly in the world.The species was named by Lord Walter Rothschild in 1907, in honour of Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
(Ornithoptera alexandrae); the second largest, the Goliath Birdwing
Goliath Birdwing
The Goliath Birdwing is a birdwing butterfly found in New Guinea, and is the second-largest butterfly in the world.-Description:...
(O. goliath); and the largest butterfly endemic to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the Cairns Birdwing
Cairns Birdwing
The Cairns Birdwing is a species of birdwing butterfly endemic to northeastern Australia, and is Australia's largest endemic butterfly species.-Description:...
(O. euphorion). Another well-known species is Rajah Brooke's Birdwing (Trogonoptera brookiana), a particularly attractive species named after Sir James Brooke
James Brooke
James, Rajah of Sarawak, KCB was the first White Rajah of Sarawak. His father, Thomas Brooke, was an English Judge Court of Appeal at Bareilly, British India; his mother, Anna Maria, born in Hertfordshire, was the illegitimate daughter of Scottish peer Colonel William Stuart, 9th Lord Blantyre,...
, the first White Rajah
White Rajahs
White Rajahs refers to a dynasty that founded and ruled the Kingdom of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946, namely the Brookes, who came originally from England. A Rajah is a monarch in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.-Rulers:...
of 19th century Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
.
Due to their size and bright colours, they are popular among collectors of butterflies, but all birdwings are now listed by CITES, thereby limiting (and in the case of O. alexandrae completely banning) international trade.
Troides darsius
Troides darsius
Troides darsius is a species of birdwing butterfly found in Sri Lanka.-Description:From Troides helena cerberus it differs as follows :...
, popularly known as the Sri Lanka Birdwing, is the National Butterfly of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Adult physical description
Birdwings are typified by large size (up to a maximum body length of 7.6 cm or 3 inches and a wingspan of 28 cm or 11 inches in O. alexandrae), showy coloration (in contrasting shades of green, yellow, black, white, and sometimes blue or orange), and slender, lanceolate forewings. With few exceptions (i.e., the New GuineaNew Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
n O. meridionalis
Ornithoptera meridionalis
Ornithoptera meridionalis is the smallest species of the genus Ornithoptera. It is known from a handful of localities in southeast Papua, New Guinea and several localities along the south coast of Irian Jaya .O...
and O. paradisea
Ornithoptera paradisea
The Paradise birdwing is a species of birdwing butterfly.The drab females can reach 150mm in wingspan and the brightly colored males peak at 135mm. The male is highly valued by collectors, with good quality male specimens costing more than $300. It is often called the "most desirable birdwing the...
), the hindwings lack tails. Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
is strong in Ornithoptera species only, where males are black combined with bright iridescent green, blue, orange or yellow while the larger and less colourful females are overall black or dark brownish with white, pale brown or yellow markings.
Males and females of most Troides birdwings are similar and have jet black to brown dorsal forewings, often with the vein
Vein
In the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood to the heart...
s bordered in grey to creamy-white. At least one of these darkly-coloured species (T. rhadamathus) possesses thermoreceptor
Thermoreceptor
A thermoreceptor is a sensory receptor, or more accurately the receptive portion of a sensory neuron, that codes absolute and relative changes in temperature, primarily within the innocuous range...
s on the anal veins (A2 and A3) of the wings and on the antenna
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
l clubs. The antennal receptors of the clubs—which also possess hygroreceptors that measure atmospheric humidity
Humidity
Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...
—are known as sensilla basiconica. The thermoreceptors are sensitive to sudden increases in temperature; they are thought to help the butterfly thermoregulate
Thermoregulation
Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is very different...
and avoid overheating while basking.
The colours of most species are pigment
Pigment
A pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.Many materials selectively absorb...
ary (via papiliochrome); but two species, Troides magellanus
Troides magellanus
The Magellan Birdwing is a large and striking Birdwing butterfly found in the Philippines and on Taiwan's Orchid Island.This butterfly is named for the explorer Ferdinand Magellan who was killed in the Philippines in 1521....
and the much rarer T. prattorum, are noted for their use of limited-view iridescence
Iridescence
Iridescence is generally known as the property of certain surfaces which appear to change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes...
: the yellow of the dorsal hindwings is modified by bright blue-green iridescence which is only seen when the butterfly is viewed at a narrow, oblique angle. This "grazing iridescence" is brought about through diffraction
Diffraction
Diffraction refers to various phenomena which occur when a wave encounters an obstacle. Italian scientist Francesco Maria Grimaldi coined the word "diffraction" and was the first to record accurate observations of the phenomenon in 1665...
of light
Light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
(after back-reflection) by the wings' extremely steeply-set, multilayered rib-like scale
Scale (zoology)
In most biological nomenclature, a scale is a small rigid plate that grows out of an animal's skin to provide protection. In lepidopteran species, scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing, and provide coloration...
s (rather than the ridge-lamellae of most other iridescent butterflies, such as Morpho
Morpho (butterfly)
A Morpho butterfly may be one of over 80 species of butterflies in the genus Morpho. They are Neotropical butterflies found mostly in South America as well as Mexico and Central America. Morphos range in wingspan from the 7.5 cm M. rhodopteron to the imposing 20 cm Sunset Morpho, M....
species). Such limited-view iridescence was previously only known from one other species, the lycaenid
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
Ancyluris meliboeus
Ancyluris meliboeus
The Meliboeus Swordtail is a butterfly of the Riodinidae family. It is found in Surinam, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia and Peru....
. In A. meliboeus, however, the iridescence is produced by ridge-lamellar scales and features a wider range of colours.
The close evolutionary relationship between Troides and Ornithoptera butterflies is well demonstrated by the fact that commercial breeders have produced numerous hybrid specimens between the two.
The final and smallest genus is Trogonoptera with just two species. They resemble each other, being overall black with iridescent green markings and a red head. Females are duller than males.
Life history
Birdwings inhabit rainforestRainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s and adults are usually glimpsed along the forest periphery. They feed upon—and are important long-range pollinator
Pollinator
A pollinator is the biotic agent that moves pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish fertilization or syngamy of the female gamete in the ovule of the flower by the male gamete from the pollen grain...
s of—nectar-bearing flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s of the forest canopy, as well as terrestrial flowers, such as lantana
Lantana
Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as an introduced species in numerous areas, especially in the Australian-Pacific region. The genus includes both...
. They are strong flyers and seek sunlit spots in which to bask.
Breeding behaviour varies little between species: the female's role is relatively passive, slowly fluttering from perch to perch while the male performs an elaborate, quivering yet stationary dance 20–50 cm above her. After mating
Mating
In biology, mating is the pairing of opposite-sex or hermaphroditic organisms for copulation. In social animals, it also includes the raising of their offspring. Copulation is the union of the sex organs of two sexually reproducing animals for insemination and subsequent internal fertilization...
, females immediately begin to seek appropriate host plants; climbing vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
s of the genera Aristolochia
Aristolochia
Aristolochia is a large plant genus with over 500 species. Collectively known as birthworts, pipevines or Dutchman's pipes, they are the namesake of the family . They are widespread and occur in the most diverse climates. Some species, like A. utriformis and A...
and Pararistolochia
Pararistolochia
Pararistolochia is a genus of plant family Aristolochiaceae. It contains the following species :Species from Africa:* Pararistolochia ceropegioides, Hutch. & Dalz....
(both in the family Aristolochiaceae
Aristolochiaceae
The Aristolochiaceae, or the Birthwort family, are a family of flowering plants with 7 genera and about 400 species belonging to the order Piperales...
) are sought exclusively. The female lays her spherical eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
under the tips of the vine's leaves, one egg per leaf.
The caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s are voracious eaters but move very little; a small group will defoliate an entire vine. If starved due to overcrowding, the caterpillars may resort to cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
. Fleshy spine-like tubercles line the caterpillars' backs, and their bodies are dark red to brown. Some species have tubercles of contrasting colours, or pale "saddle" markings. Like other members of their family, birdwing caterpillars possess a retractable organ behind their heads called an osmeterium
Osmeterium
The osmeterium is a fleshy organ found in the prothoracic segment of larvae of Swallowtail butterflies including Birdwings. This organ emits smelly compounds believed to be pheromones. Normally hidden, this forked structure can be everted when the caterpillar is threatened, and used to emit a...
. Shaped like the forked tongue
Tongue
The tongue is a muscular hydrostat on the floors of the mouths of most vertebrates which manipulates food for mastication. It is the primary organ of taste , as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly...
of a snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
, the osmeterium excretes a fetid terpene
Terpene
Terpenes are a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants, particularly conifers, though also by some insects such as termites or swallowtail butterflies, which emit terpenes from their osmeterium. They are often strong smelling and thus may have had a protective...
-based compound and is deployed when the caterpillar is provoked. The caterpillars are also unappealing to most predators due to their toxicity: the vines which the caterpillars feed upon contain aristolochic acid
Aristolochic acid
Aristolochic acids are a family of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic compounds commonly found in the Aristolochiaceae family of plants, including Aristolochia and Asarum, which are commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine. Aristolochic acid I is the most abundant of the aristolochic acids...
, a poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
ous compound known to be carcinogen
Carcinogen
A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes...
ic in rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s. The feeding caterpillars incorporate and concentrate the aristolochic acid into their tissues, where the poison will persist through metamorphosis and into adulthood.
Birdwing chrysalids are camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
d to look like a dead leaf or twig. Before pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
ting, the caterpillars may wander considerable distances from their host plants. In O. alexandrae, it takes ca. four months to get from egg to adult. Barring predation, this species can also survive up to three months as an adult.
Status and protection
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is the largest butterfly in the world.The species was named by Lord Walter Rothschild in 1907, in honour of Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
(O. alexandrae), all birdwings are listed in Appendix II of CITES, and accordingly their trade is restricted in countries that have signed the CITES convention. Exceptions are made for captive-reared specimens, which mainly originate from ranches in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Most species of all three genera have now been reared in captivity, though with significant differences in the quantities reared of each species. O. alexandrae is listed on Appendix I and therefore cannot legally be traded internationally. At the 2006 meeting of the CITES Animals Committee some suggested O. alexandrae should be moved to Appendix II, as the conservation benefits of sustainable management perhaps are higher than those of the trade ban.
Richmond Birdwing (O. richmondia) depend on the plant Aristolochia praevenosa which they need for their caterpillars. However, the very similar Aristolochia elegans (Dutchman's Pipe) which can be found in many Australian backyards, kills the caterpillars.
Genus: Troides
- subgenus: Ripponia
-
- Troides hypolitusTroides hypolitusRippon’s Birdwing, is a birdwing butterfly endemic to the Moluccas and Sulawesi. It is not significantly threatened, but it is protected....
- Troides hypolitus
-
- subgenus: Troides
-
- Troides aeacusTroides aeacusGolden Birdwing is a large butterfly belonging to the Swallowtail .-Description: Troides aeacus has a wingspan reaching about . In the males the fore wings are black, with veins bordered by whitish colour, while the hind wings are bright yellow. The underside of the wings is quite similar to the...
- Troides amphrysusTroides amphrysusTroides amphrysus is a birdwing butterfly in the genus Troides in the papilionidae family.-Subspecies:*T. a. amphrysus *T. a. ruficollis Troides amphrysus is a birdwing butterfly in the genus Troides in the papilionidae family.-Subspecies:*T. a. amphrysus (Java, Bali)*T. a. ruficollis Troides...
- Troides andromacheTroides andromacheTroides andromache is a species of butterfly in the papilionidae family. It is found in Malaysia and possibly Indonesia.-Sources:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007.-External links:* Photo.More information....
- Troides critonTroides critonThe Criton Birdwing is a birdwing butterfly found on the islands of Morotai, Halmahera, Bacan, Ternate and Obi in Indonesia.-References:*D'Abrera, B. Birdwing Butterflies of the World. Country Life Books, London....
- Troides cuneiferaTroides cuneiferaTroides cuneifera is a large butterfly belonging to the swallowtail family found in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo....
- Troides darsiusTroides darsiusTroides darsius is a species of birdwing butterfly found in Sri Lanka.-Description:From Troides helena cerberus it differs as follows :...
- Troides dohertyiTroides dohertyiThe Talaud Black Birdwing is a birdwing butterfly endemic to the Talaud and Sangihe islands.This species is ranked as a subspecies of Troides rhadamantus by some authors.-Description:...
- Troides haliphronTroides haliphronTroides haliphron is a birdwing butterfly confined to Sulawesi and the lesser Sunda Islands.-Taxonomy:Troides staudingeri has at times been considered a subspecies of Troides haliphron....
- Troides helenaTroides helenaThe Common Birdwing, Troides helena , is a beautiful and large butterfly belonging to the Swallowtail . It is often found in the wildlife trade due to its popularity with butterfly collectors...
- Troides magellanusTroides magellanusThe Magellan Birdwing is a large and striking Birdwing butterfly found in the Philippines and on Taiwan's Orchid Island.This butterfly is named for the explorer Ferdinand Magellan who was killed in the Philippines in 1521....
- Troides minosTroides minosThe Southern Birdwing is a large and striking Swallowtail butterfly endemic to Peninsular India. With a wingspan of 140-190mm, it is the largest butterfly found in southern India....
- Troides mirandaTroides mirandaThe Miranda Birdwing is a birdwing butterfly that inhabits Borneo and Sumatra....
- Troides oblongomaculatusTroides oblongomaculatusTroides oblongomaculatus is a birdwing butterfly found in Indonesia and New Guinea.T. oblongomaculatus is the only Troides species found as far east as New Guinea. It has been assumed that the species originated in the Moluccas and later penetrated into Melanesia...
- Troides plateniTroides plateniDr. Platens Birdwing is a birdwing butterfly endemic to Palawan, Balabac, Dumaran, and the Calamian Islands in the Philippines. It is named for Dr. Carl Constantin Platen.-Habitat and conservation:...
- Troides platoTroides platoTroides plato is a birdwing butterfly endemic to Timor.Described forms are nychonia Jordan, 1908 ,chitonia Jordan, 1908 and delormei Le Moult, 1931 ....
- Troides prattorum - Commercially bred, but supplies of this butterfly are sporadic, so it is still very rare in collections.
- Troides rhadamantusTroides rhadamantusThe Golden Birdwing is a birdwing butterfly which inhabits the Philippines. There are many subspecies on different islands of the Philippines and some authors consider Troides plateni and Troides dohertyi as subspecies of T. rhadamantus.-External links:*...
- Troides riedeliTroides riedeliTroides riedeli is a birdwing butterfly endemic to the Tanimbar Islands. Very little is known of the life history and distribution....
- Troides staudingeriTroides staudingeriTroides staudingeri is a birdwing butterfly in the genus Troides in the papilionidae family. It is known from Leti Island, Moa Island, Kisar Island, Babar Island and Wetar Island.-Subspecies:*T. s. staudingeri...
- Troides vandepolliTroides vandepolliTroides vandepolli is a montane birdwing butterfly occurring on Java and Sumatra. It is endemic for Indonesia and is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species .The species was named for Neervoort Jacob R. H...
- Troides aeacus
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Genus: Ornithoptera
- subgenus: Aetheoptera
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- Ornithoptera victoriaeOrnithoptera victoriaeQueen Victoria's Birdwing is a birdwing butterfly found in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville Island ....
- Ornithoptera victoriae
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- subgenus: Ornithoptera
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- Ornithoptera aesacusOrnithoptera aesacusOrnithoptera aesacus is a species of birdwing butterfly endemic to Indonesia.It is only found on the heavily logged island of Obi. It is seriously endangered but commercially bred.-References:...
- Twenty years ago this was (by far) the world's rarest birdwing species. Now commercially bred. - Ornithoptera croesusOrnithoptera croesusOrnithoptera croesus, commonly known as Wallace's Golden Birdwing is a species of birdwing butterfly found in northern Maluku.It is a member of the Ornithoptera priamus species-group which, including croesus, is only found east of Weber's Line . The larval foodplant is Pararistolochia...
- Ornithoptera priamusOrnithoptera priamusOrnithoptera priamus, commonly known as the common green birdwing, Cape York Birdwing, Priam's Birdwing or Northern Birdwing, is a widespread species of birdwing butterfly found in the central and south Moluccas, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, and northeast...
- Occurs as a number of subspecies, some of which are often regarded as full species e.g. O. (priamus) urvilleanus.
- Ornithoptera aesacus
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- subgenus: Schoenbergia
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- Ornithoptera chimaeraOrnithoptera chimaeraOrnithoptera chimaera is a birdwing butterfly of the papilionidae family. It is found in mountain areas of New Guinea and Java above 1000 metres.The wingspan is 80–180 mm for females and 70–150 mm for males....
- Ornithoptera goliath - A mosaic gynandromorphGynandromorphA gynandromorph is an organism that contains both male and female characteristics. The term gynandromorph, from Greek "gyne" female and "andro" male, is mainly used in the field of Lepidopterology or entomology...
ic specimen of this species sold by a Taiwanese dealer for US$28,000 in July 2006, which is possibly sets the world record for the highest price paid for a butterfly. - Ornithoptera meridionalisOrnithoptera meridionalisOrnithoptera meridionalis is the smallest species of the genus Ornithoptera. It is known from a handful of localities in southeast Papua, New Guinea and several localities along the south coast of Irian Jaya .O...
- Ornithoptera paradiseaOrnithoptera paradiseaThe Paradise birdwing is a species of birdwing butterfly.The drab females can reach 150mm in wingspan and the brightly colored males peak at 135mm. The male is highly valued by collectors, with good quality male specimens costing more than $300. It is often called the "most desirable birdwing the...
- Ornithoptera rothschildi
- Ornithoptera tithonusOrnithoptera tithonusThe Tithonus Birdwing is a species of birdwing butterfly found in the Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone.Ornithoptera tithonus is, like all other birdwing butterflies, a strictly protected species. It is listed in the appendix II from CITES.-Subspecies:There are six subspecies:*O. t. cytherea ...
- Ornithoptera chimaera
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- subgenus: Straatmana
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- Ornithoptera alexandraeQueen Alexandra's BirdwingQueen Alexandra's Birdwing is the largest butterfly in the world.The species was named by Lord Walter Rothschild in 1907, in honour of Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
- The world's largest butterfly. Listed on CITES Appendix I.
- Ornithoptera alexandrae
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- subgenus unassigned:
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- Ornithoptera euphorion - There is a spectacular and rare genetic mutation of this butterfly (less than 40 known examples - all from a single aberrant female) where the males are gold instead of green http://www.insectcompany.com/oddities/golden-birdwing.shtml.
- Ornithoptera richmondiaOrnithoptera richmondiaThe Richmond Birdwing is a species of birdwing butterfly that is endemic to Australia. It is the second smallest of the birdwing species, the smallest being Ornithoptera meridionalis.-Distribution:...
- The smallest Ornithoptera species. Occasionally (and wrongly) regarded as a subspecies of O. priamus.
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Hybrids
There are two Ornithoptera species, now regarded as hybrids:- O. rothschildi x O. priamus poseidonOrnithoptera akakeaeWhat was originally described as Ornithoptera akakeae is a birdwing butterfly that is a hybrid between Ornithoptera rothschildi and Ornithoptera priamus poseidon. The hybrid is known from a single female specimen....
- Originally described as species Ornithoptera akakeae. Known from a single female specimen. - O. victoriae x O. priamus urvilleanus - Originally described as species Ornithoptera allotei. This butterfly is, because of its rarity, one of the World's most valuable, with male specimens typically selling for more than £4,000.00 (US$7,000.00). It would be an ideal candidate for commercial exploitation because its parents are not rare on Bougainville Island and can (apparently) be easily induced to mate with one another.
Other references
- American Museum of Natural History. BioBulletin: Birdwing butterflies Retrieved June 28, 2005 from
- Campbell, A. L., Naik, R. R., Sowards, L., and Stone, M. O. (2002). Biological infrared imaging and sensing. Micron 33, 211–225.
- Monteith, G. (2000). Queensland Museum: Birdwing butterflies. Retrieved June 28, 2005.
- Reed, R. D., and Sperling, F. A. H. (2001) Tree of Life: Papilionidae Retrieved June 28, 2005
- Savela, M. (2005). Troides. Retrieved June 28, 2005 from
- Vukusic, P., Sambles, J. R., and Ghiradella, H. (2000). Optical classification of microstructure in butterfly wing-scales. Photonics Science News, 6, 66–66.
- Nagypal, Tony, The World of Birdwing Butterflies.
- Haugum, J. & Low, A.M. (1982). A Monograph of the Birdwing Butterflies. The systematics of Ornithoptera, Troides and related genera. Vol. 2, Part 1. Trogonoptera and Ripponia. Klampenborg, Denmark : Scandinavian Science Press pp. 9–104
- Haugum, J. & Low, A.M. (1983). [1978-1983] A Monograph of the Birdwing Butterflies. The systematics of Ornithoptera, Troides and related genera. Vols 1 & 2. Klampenborg : Scandinavian Science Press 356 pp.
- Haugum, J. & Low, A.M. (1983). A Monograph of the Birdwing Butterflies. The systematics of Ornithoptera, Troides and related genera. Vol. 2, Part 2. Troides; amphrysus and haliphron groups. Klampenborg, Denmark : Scandinavian Science Press pp. 105–204
- Haugum, J. & Low, A.M. (1985). A Monograph of the Birdwing Butterflies. The systematics of Ornithoptera, Troides and related genera. Vol. 2, Part 3. Troides; helena and aeacus groups. Klampenborg, Denmark : Scandinavian Science Press pp. [1-8], 241-356
External links
- Butterflycorner.net (English/German)
- Genus Troides at Lepidoptera.pro
- Birdwings on posatge stamps
- Pteron Birdwing Gallery. In Japanese but with binomialBinomialIn algebra, a binomial is a polynomial with two terms —the sum of two monomials—often bound by parenthesis or brackets when operated upon...
names.