Cairn's Birdwing

Cairns birdwing (Ornithoptera priamus or Troides euphorion) is the largest butterfly in Australia - it has a wing span up to 17-18 cm across. This large butterfly lives in the canopy of rainforests in North Queensland, Australia. The male is more colorful and smaller than the female. Males have green wings with black markings; females have black wings with white and yellow markings. Both have a bright yellow abdomen and red/black head and thorax - adults sip flower nectar. Eggs are spherical and laid singly on the undersides of leaves (Dutchman's pipe). The sometimes cannibalistic caterpillar is black, has short, fleshy spines with black tips, and a head with a white mark - the host plant is Dutchman's pipe (genus Aristolochia).