Ornithoptera priamus arruana

(Felder, 1859)

Vernacular names
English : Common green birdwing
French : Papillon aile-d’oiseau vert commun

Classification
Class : Insecta
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Papilionidae
Notes : Up to 21 other subspecies known. Sometimes placed in genus Troides.

Identification
Adults can grow to a wingspan near 20 cm. Males have green wings with black leaf-shaped area on forewing. Female is brown with a row of spotted white to yellow area on hindwing. Yellow abdomen with red under cephalothorax.

Range and habitat
This subspecies is endemic to Aru Islands. Species found from eastern Indonesia to New Guinea, Solomon Islands and northern Australia. Lives in lowland and lower slopes tropical rainforests and dry forests, to 1600 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species has a very large range. Some restricted-range subspecies are on the verge of extinction. Often used for trade, live and mounted.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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