Ornithoptera victoriae
Encyclopedia
Queen Victoria's Birdwing (Ornithoptera victoriae) is a birdwing
butterfly
found in the Solomon Islands
and Bougainville Island
(Papua New Guinea
).
It was described in 1856 by Gray
. The wingspan is about 15–18 cm (5.9–7.1 in). This butterfly is a member of the family Papilionidae.
. Ornithoptera victoriae is, like all other birdwing butterflies, a strictly protected species. It is listed in the Appendix II of CITES, meaning that international trade is restricted to captive-raised specimens. The Solomon Islands, which include a significant part of this species' range, only became a signatory to CITES in 2007 (Papua New Guinea have been a signatory for many years).
.
The underside of Ornithoptera victoriae is black. The green spot and the green area are combined. At the wing leading edge there is a large black spot. The veins are black.
The hind wings of Ornithoptera victorae are green. The edge of wing is black. At the outer edge there are three golden spots.
The underside is green. The veins are partly black. At the outer edge there are three golden spots. Between these golden spots there are black spots.
The body (abdomen) is yellowish or white. Head and thorax are black. The underside is a copy of upside.
Sex differences: The female covers the upper range of the wing-span. It is significant-larger than the male. The basic colour of the female is black or dark-brown. There are many white spots on the fore wings. Next to the thorax there are two yellow stripes. On the hind wings there are two chains of white marks. There is also one yellow spot. The underside is a copy from upside.
Birdwing
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...
butterfly
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...
found in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
and Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
(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...
).
It was described in 1856 by Gray
George Robert Gray
George Robert Gray FRS was an English zoologist and author, and head of the ornithological section of the British Museum, now the Natural History Museum, in London for forty-one years...
. The wingspan is about 15–18 cm (5.9–7.1 in). This butterfly is a member of the family Papilionidae.
Conservation
The species is not rare, but some populations are declining due to deforestationDeforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
. Ornithoptera victoriae is, like all other birdwing butterflies, a strictly protected species. It is listed in the Appendix II of CITES, meaning that international trade is restricted to captive-raised specimens. The Solomon Islands, which include a significant part of this species' range, only became a signatory to CITES in 2007 (Papua New Guinea have been a signatory for many years).
Description
The fore wings are black. Next to the wing tip there is a large , green spot. There is a green area around the thoraxThorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
.
The underside of Ornithoptera victoriae is black. The green spot and the green area are combined. At the wing leading edge there is a large black spot. The veins are black.
The hind wings of Ornithoptera victorae are green. The edge of wing is black. At the outer edge there are three golden spots.
The underside is green. The veins are partly black. At the outer edge there are three golden spots. Between these golden spots there are black spots.
The body (abdomen) is yellowish or white. Head and thorax are black. The underside is a copy of upside.
Sex differences: The female covers the upper range of the wing-span. It is significant-larger than the male. The basic colour of the female is black or dark-brown. There are many white spots on the fore wings. Next to the thorax there are two yellow stripes. On the hind wings there are two chains of white marks. There is also one yellow spot. The underside is a copy from upside.
Subspecies
- Ornithoptera victoriae archeri [Calderara, 1984]
- Ornithoptera victoriae epiphanes [Schmid, 1970]
- Ornithoptera victoriae isabellae [Rothschild & Jordan, 1901]
- Ornithoptera victoriae maramasikensis [Morita, 2000]
- Ornithoptera victoriae reginae [Godman & Salvin, 1888]
- Ornithoptera victoriae regis [Rothschild, 1895]
- Ornithoptera victoriae rubianus [Rothschild, 1904]