Ornithoptera priamus

The common green birdwing (Ornithoptera priamus) is widespread from New Guinea east through the Solomon Islands and south to Australia.

Variation

To the west male O. priamus takes on a blue rather than green colouration (subspecies urvilleana, miokensis, and caelestis). Other subspecies include demophanes (Trobiand), poseidon (New Guinea ), admiralitatis (Admiralty Islands), arruana (Aru Islands), hecuba (Kei Island), cassandra (Yapen) bornemanni (New Britain), teucrus, and the nominate race from Ceram. As in other species of the genus Ornithoptera, the females are larger and less vividly coloured than the males, them being mainly blackish or dark brown with patterns in pale brown, yellow or white.

Threats

Some subspecies are under intense environmental pressure and are in danger (e.g. miokensis and boisduvali). The Australian populations (subspecies richmondia, euphorion, malcapinei and pronomus) are vulnerable to habitat destruction.

References