Female Queen Alexandra's Birdwings are larger than males with rounder, bigger wings. The females wingspan 12 inches and has a body length of 3.2 inches, all big measurements for a butterfly. The female has brown wings with white markings and a cream-colored body and a small piece of red fur on its thorax. Males are smaller than females with brown wings that have blue and green spots and a bright yellow abdomen. The wingspan of the males is 20 cm. A form of the male is atavus, that has gold spots on the hind wings.

 

The female Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing lays about 27 eggs during its lifespan. Male pupae may have charcoal patch on the wing. It becomes a band of special scales in the adult butterfly called a sex brand. The time taken for this species to develop from egg to pupa is six weeks. The pupal stage takes a month or more.

 

A few predators are the orb-weaving spiders and some small birds. Males are really territorial and will run off rivals. Unfortunately, these butterflies flies are endangered. A big threat to habitat destruction is the need for oil plant plantations. But a volcano eruption destroyed a big part of there habitat. Because they are rare they cost a lot on the black market.

 

They live in papua new guinea, rainforists also and the adults may live for three months or more. New larvae eat their own shells before feeding on fresh foliage. The catipillar eats a toxic pipevine plant. Catipillars that eat this plant become toxic and if they get eatin it can harm a predator. Adults will feed on the nectors of flowers. Its interesting to know that the catipillars are posionous.

 

Its very interesting to have the largest butterfly in the world to write about. I have learned a lot. Its sad that they had to be made illegal to have. But that’s a good thing because if they werent illegal to collect they would be extinct and I wouldn’t be writing this. So lets try not to endanger any more species and keep the queen alexandra birdwing alive.   

 

Author: Hunter H.

Published: 02/2010     

 

Bibliograghy

http://www.rainforestanimals.net/rainforestanimal/queenalexandra.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Alexandra's_Birdwing