Ornithoptera priamus
The common green birdwing diverged around the Pleistocene epoch (5.5 million years ago) and there are 22 subspecies. Wingspan of males is 8-17 cm and of females is 11-20 cm. Females have duller wing markings. Among males, the forewings are black, with green stripes along the margins. Most subspecies are green, but some are blue. The adults visit flowers in the early morning and at dusk and are often active in the canopy and prefer to glide. The larvae feed on birthworts (Aristolochia spp). The distribution of this butterfly is in the Australasian realm (Moluccas (central and southern areas), New Guinea, Bismark Archipelago, Solomon Islands, and the tropical rainforests of northeastern Australia). This butterfly is listed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
