Birdwing 2134303 223596809 2008-07-04T20:20:48Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Taxobox | name = Birdwings | image = 2006 0228 silent valley troides minos.jpg | image_width = 220px | image_caption = ''[[Troides minos]]'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | classis = [[Insect]]a | ordo = [[Lepidoptera]] | subordo = [[Ditrysia]] | superfamilia = [[Papilionoidea]] | familia = [[Swallowtail Butterfly|Papilionidae]] | subfamilia = [[Papilioninae]] | tribus = [[Troidini]] | genus = '''''Trogonoptera'''''<br/>'''''Troides'''''<br/>'''''Ornithoptera''''' | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = ''Many; [[#List of species|see article]]'' }} '''Birdwings''' are large, tropical [[Swallowtail Butterfly|papilionid]] [[butterfly|butterflies]] native to mainland and archipelagic [[Southeast Asia]] and [[Australasia]] (with one [[India]]n species), and are usually regarded as belonging to three [[genus|genera]]: '''''Ornithoptera''''', '''''Trogonoptera''''' and '''''Troides'''''. Some authorities include additional genera and the number of species range between 10 and 30 depending on the taxonomic treatment. 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 [[Australia]]n butterfly, 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 Rajahs|White Rajah]] of 19th century [[Sarawak]]. With the exception of ''O. alexandrae'', all birdwings are listed in Appendix II of [[Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna|CITES]] as either vulnerable or rare, and accordingly their trade is restricted in countries party to the CITES convention. Exceptions are made for captive-bred specimens which are marketed through the [[Insect Farming and Trading Agency of New Guinea]].<ref>[http://www.ifta.com.pg Insect Farming and Trading Agency of New Guinea]</ref> However, ''O. alexandrae'' is totally protected (Appendix I: [[endangered species|endangered]]) and cannot legally be sold. This species is now known to be more common than previously thought and at the 2006 meeting of the [[CITES]] Animals Committee it was recommended that this species be relegated to CITES II, so allowing commercial exploitation of this butterfly. == 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 Guinea]]n ''[[Ornithoptera meridionalis|O. meridionalis]]'' and ''[[Ornithoptera paradisea|O. paradisea]]''), the hindwings lack tails. [[Sexual dimorphism]] is strong in ''Ornithoptera'' species only, with females appreciably larger and less colourful than males. [[Image:Black and yellow butterfly KL.jpg|left|thumb|220px|A male [[Rajah Brooke's Birdwing]] at a [[Kuala Lumpur]] [[butterfly conservatory]].]] 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 (''[[Troides rhadamathus|T. rhadamathus]]'') possesses [[thermoreceptor]]s on the anal veins (A2 and A3) of the wings and on the [[antenna (biology)|antenna]]l clubs. The antennal receptors of the clubs&mdash;which also possess [[hygroreceptor]]s that measure atmospheric [[humidity]]&mdash;are known as ''sensilla basiconica''. The thermoreceptors are sensitive to sudden increases in temperature; they are thought to help the butterfly [[thermoregulation|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 ''[[Troides prattorum|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 (zoology)|scale]]s (rather than the ridge-lamellae of most other iridescent butterflies, such as ''[[Morpho (butterfly)|Morpho]]'' species). Such limited-view iridescence was previously only known from one other species, the [[Lycaenidae|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 ''Triodes'' and ''Ornithoptera'' butterflies is well demonstrated by the fact that commercial breeders have produced numerous hybrid specimens between the two. == Life history == [[Image:Southern birdwing mating.jpg|right|thumb|220px|A pair of [[Southern Birdwing|southern birdwings]] mating, [[Kerala]]]] Birdwings inhabit [[rainforest]]s and adults are usually glimpsed along the forest periphery. They feed upon&mdash;and are important long-range [[pollinator]]s of&mdash;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&ndash;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 [[egg (biology)|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 [[predator]]s 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 (biology)|metamorphosis]] and into adulthood. Birdwing [[Pupa#Chrysalis|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. == List of species == [[Image:Black and blue butterfly KL.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Trogonoptera trojana]] male in a Kuala Lumpur butterfly conservatory.]] ===Trogonoptera=== * ''[[Trogonoptera brookiana]]'' * ''[[Trogonoptera trojana]]'' ===Troides=== * ''[[Troides aeacus]]'' * ''[[Troides amphrysus]]'' * ''[[Troides andromache]]'' * ''[[Troides criton]]'' * ''[[Troides cuneifera]]'' * ''[[Troides darsius]]'' * ''[[Troides dohertyi]]'' * ''[[Troides haliphron]]'' * ''[[Troides helena]]'' * ''[[Troides hypolitus]]'' * ''[[Troides magellanus]]'' * ''[[Southern Birdwing|Troides minos]]'' * ''[[Troides miranda]]'' * ''[[Troides oblongomaculatus]]'' * ''[[Troides plateni]]'' * ''[[Troides plato]]'' * ''[[Troides prattorum]]'' - Commercially bred, but supplies of this butterfly are sporadic, so it is still very rare in collections. * ''[[Troides rhadamantus]]'' * ''[[Troides riedeli]]'' * ''[[Troides staudingeri]]'' * ''[[Troides vandepolli]]'' ===Ornithoptera=== [[Image:Papilio lydius felder.jpg|thumb|''[[Ornithoptera croesus]]'']] * ''[[Ornithoptera aesacus]]'' - Twenty years ago this was (by far) the world's rarest birdwing species. Now commercially bred. * ''[[Queen Alexandra's Birdwing|Ornithoptera alexandrae]]''- The world's largest butterfly. * ''[[Ornithoptera croesus]]'' * ''[[Ornithoptera chimaera]]'' * ''[[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 richmondia]]'' - The smallest ''Ornithoptera'' species. Occasionally (and wrongly) regarded as a subspecies of ''O. priamus''. * ''[[Goliath Birdwing|Ornithoptera goliath]]'' - A mosaic [[gynandromorph]]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 meridionalis]]'' * ''[[Ornithoptera paradisea]]'' * ''[[Ornithoptera priamus]]'' - Occurs as a number of subspecies, some of which are often regarded as full species e.g. ''O. (priamus) urvilleanus''. * ''[[Rothschild's Birdwing|Ornithoptera rothschildi]]'' * ''[[Ornithoptera tithonus]]'' * ''[[Ornithoptera victoriae]]'' Two other ''Ornithoptera'' species are now regarded as hybrids: *''Ornithoptera akakeae'' (hybrid of ''O. rothschildi'' x ''O. priamus poseidon'') Known from a single female specimen. *''[[Ornithoptera allotei]]'' (hybrid of ''O. victoriae'' x ''O. priamus urvilleanus'') 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. <ref>[http://www.nagypal.net/ttallott.htm Nagypal, T. The World of Birdwing Butterflies]</ref> == Cited references == <references/> ==Other references== *American Museum of Natural History. [http://sciencebulletins.amnh.org/biobulletin/biobulletin/story845.html BioBulletin: Birdwing butterflies] Retrieved June 28, 2005 from *Campbell, A. L., Naik, R. R., Sowards, L., and Stone, M. O. (2002). [http://web.neurobio.arizona.edu/gronenberg/nrsc581/thermo/biologicalinfraredsenses.pdf Biological infrared imaging and sensing]. ''Micron 33'', 211&ndash;225. *Monteith, G. (2000). [http://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/inquiry/leaflets/leaflet0033.pdf Queensland Museum: Birdwing butterflies.] Retrieved June 28, 2005. *Reed, R. D., and Sperling, F. A. H. (2001) [http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Papilionidae&contgroup=Papilionoidea Tree of Life: Papilionidae] Retrieved June 28, 2005 *Savela, M. (2005). [http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/papilionidae/papilioninae/troides/ Troides]. Retrieved June 28, 2005 from *Vukusic, P., Sambles, J. R., and Ghiradella, H. (2000). [http://newton.ex.ac.uk/research/emag/butterflies/classification_page.htm Optical classification of microstructure in butterfly wing-scales]. ''Photonics Science News'', 6, 66&ndash;66. *Nagypal, Tony, [http://www.nagypal.net 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 == * [http://en.butterflycorner.net/Genus-ORNITHOPTERA.937.0.html Butterflycorner.net] (english/german) * [http://www.goliathus.cz/en/museum-birdwings-26.html Birdwings gallery] * [http://home.att.net/~bret69/ Exceptional birdwing pics] * [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ch2m-nitu/toribaee.htm Birdwings on posatge stamps] * [http://www.pteron-world.com/topics/classfication/papilionidae/troidini.html Pteron] Birdwing Gallery. In Japanese but with [[binomial]] names. [[Category:Papilionidae]] [[ja:トリバネチョウ]] [[no:Fuglevinger]] [[ru:Птицекрылы]]