Ornithoptera euphorion

(Gray, 1853)

Vernacular names
English : Cairns birdwing
French : Papillon aile-d’oiseau de Cairns

Classification
Class : Insecta
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Papilionidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to a wingspan of 15 cm. Males have green-yellow wings with black leaf-shaped area on forewing. Underwing has yellow and green spots. Female with green abdomen and small yellow spots on underwing.

Range and habitat
The species is endemic to Australia and only occurs in a narrow coastal band in northern Queensland, east of the Great Dividing Range, near Cairns and Mackay. Lives in upland and lowland rainforests, suburban parks with large vines.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species has a very small range but its population seems to remain stable so far. It is adaptable as long as its food plains are present.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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