Ornithoptera rothschildi (Rothschild´s Birdwing)

Ornithoptera rothschildi, also called Rothschild´s Birdwing is a butterfly from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The first description was in 1911 by Kenrick. The wingspan is about 14 – 16 cm. This butterfly is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. Ornithoptera rothschildi is black. It has green and golden areas on the wings. The females are dark-brown and have some white and yellow spots.

Photos for easy identification

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Photographer Thomas Neubauer

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Photographer Thomas Neubauer

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Photographer Thomas Neubauer

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Photographer Thomas Neubauer

Here you can see some photos of Ornithoptera rothschildi (Rothschild´s Birdwing) (male above / female below). Ornithoptera rothschildi is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Australasia / Indomalaya (Australia).

Description

The fore wings are black. At the wing tip there is a green stripe. In the middle of the wing there is a broad, green band.
The underside of Ornithoptera rothschildi is black. There ar many green marks on the wing.

The hind wings of Ornithoptera rothschildi are golden. The edge is black. In the middle of the wing there is a green area. This area contains black spots.
The underside is a copy from upside, but the golden area is surrounded by a green line.

The body (abdomen) is yellow. Head and thorax are black. The underside of thorax has a red hair-coat.

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 dark-brown. The fore wing is dominated by some little, white spots. On the hind wings there is a chain of large, yellow spots. Each of these yellow spots has one dark-brown circle. The underside is a copy from upside, but all colours are stronger.

Distribution

Ornithoptera rothschildi (Rothschild´s Bidwing) is a butterfly from the Australasia / Indomalaya (Australia) ecozone. The distribution is restricted on Irian.

This world map shows the ecozones in which this butterfly is distributed.

Larval food

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General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1911 by Kenrick. There are no subspecies.

Ornithoptera rothschildi is, like all other Birdwings a true miracle of nature. This butterfly is strictly protected. It is listed in the appendix II from CITES.

Macro photos

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Photographer Thomas Neubauer macro photograph of Ornithoptera rothschildi m (upside)

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Photographer Thomas Neubauer macro photograph of Ornithoptera rothschildi m (underside)

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Photographer Thomas Neubauer macro photograph of Ornithoptera rothschildi f (upside)

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Photographer Thomas Neubauer macro photograph of Ornithoptera rothschildi f (underside)

Here you can see some macro photos of Ornithoptera rothschildi.

Protection provisions / Red List

CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):

-Appendix II- (as at 12.02.2008)
EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora:

-Appendix B- (as at 19.08.2005)
IUCN Red List of threatened species:

-endangered, protected- (as at 2008)