Trogonoptera brookiana albescens

(Rothschild, 1895)

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

Classification
Class : Insecta
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Papilionidae
Notes : Up to 10 other subspecies known. Sometimes placed in genus Troides.

Identification
Adults can reach a wingspan of 17 cm. Unmistakable. Wings long, straight and broad, mostly black with a straight row of tooth-like shiny green spots. Females have less green and white stripes on wings. Body black with red nape spot.

Range and habitat
Subspecies found in southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia. Species occurs on Sumatra, Borneo , their satellite islands and Natuna archipelago. Lives in primary and old secondary forests, from 200 to 1800 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species has a large range but its numbers are probably declining locally because of habitat loss and overtrapping for international trade.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

Back to “Butterflies and relatives” page