Knowra Birdwing Birdwing A large tropical butterfly in the swallowtail family, especially one in the genera Ornithoptera, Troides, or Trogonoptera. Many species have striking colors and pronounced differences between male and female.
Swallowtail butterfly : A butterfly in the family Papilionidae, often recognized by tail-like extensions on its hindwings. Birdwings are large members of this butterfly family.
Queen Alexandra's birdwing : The world’s largest living butterfly, a birdwing native to Papua New Guinea. Its exceptional size makes it the best-known example of a birdwing.
Aristolochia : A genus of flowering plants whose species contain compounds toxic to many animals. Birdwing caterpillars of several species feed on these plants and retain defensive compounds.
Butterfly farming : The captive or semi-captive breeding of butterflies for conservation, education, or commercial use. Birdwings are bred in some programs for display and to supply legally traded specimens.
Lepidoptera : The insect order comprising butterflies and moths, distinguished by scale-covered wings. Birdwings share the defining wing scales and life cycle of this order.
Goliath birdwing : A large birdwing species, Ornithoptera goliath, native to New Guinea and nearby islands. It exemplifies the genus Ornithoptera’s size and strong differences between sexes.
Batesian mimicry : A form of mimicry in which a harmless species resembles a harmful or unpalatable one. Some female birdwings resemble chemically defended butterflies that predators avoid.
CITES : An international agreement regulating trade in wild animals and plants to prevent threats to their survival. Several birdwing species receive protections that regulate international trade.
Butterfly life cycle : The sequence of egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages in butterfly development. Birdwings undergo complete metamorphosis through these four stages.
Rajah Brooke's birdwing : A birdwing species, Trogonoptera brookiana, found in parts of Southeast Asia. Its vivid green markings illustrate the distinctive colors found among birdwings.
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