ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS


O. priamus impensus

5.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS IMPENSUS - female (ventral view)
(loc.: Manipa Is.)
(wingspan: 138 mm)






O. priamus priamus

6.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS PRIAMUS - male
(loc.: Ceram)

7.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS PRIAMUS - male (ventral view)
(loc.: Ceram)

8.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS PRIAMUS - female
(loc.: Ceram)

9.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS PRIAMUS - female (ventral view)
(loc.: Ceram)






O. priamus albireo

10.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ALBIREO - male
(loc.: Kur Is.)

11.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ALBIREO - male
(loc.: Kur Is.)

O. priamus hecuba

13.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS HECUBA - males
(wingspan: upper specimen: 110 mm, lower specimen: 139 mm)
(loc.: Kei Is.)

14.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS HECUBA - female
(loc.: Kei Is.)






O. priamus arruana

15.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ARRUANA - male
(loc.: Aru Is.)

16.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ARRUANA - male
(loc.: Aru Is.)

17.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ARRUANA - female
(loc.: Aru Is.)






O. priamus pronomus

18.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS PRONOMUS - male
(wingspan: 122 mm)
(loc.: Bamaga, North Queensland)
(coll. and photo: © William Garthe, Peru, IL, USA)

19.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS PRONOMUS - male
(wingspan: 116 mm)
(loc.: Bamaga, North Queensland)

20.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS PRONOMUS - female
(wingspan: 143 mm)
(loc.: Bamaga, North Queensland)
(coll. and photo: © William Garthe, Peru, IL, USA)

21.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS PRONOMUS - female
(wingspan: 118 mm)
(loc.: Bamaga, North Queensland)






O. priamus macalpinei

22.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS MACALPINEI - male
(wingspan: 110 mm)
(loc.: Iron Range, QLD)

23.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS MACALPINEI - female
(wingspan: 153 mm)
(loc.: Iron Range, QLD)






O. priamus euphorion

24.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - male
(loc.: Cairns)

25.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - male
(loc.: Ingham)

26.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - male
(loc.: Ingham)

27.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - male
(loc.: Ingham)

28.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - female
(loc.: Ingham)

29.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - female (ventral view)
(loc.: Ingham)



30.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - female
(coll. and photo: © Abiel Neo, Singapore)





31.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - female (ventral view)
(coll. and photo: © Abiel Neo, Singapore)



Extreme forms achieved through selective breeding
(for one reference on the history behind these specimens, see the website of the Insect Company)



32.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - mf WEYLANDI - male
(loc.: Cairns)
(wingspan: 117 mm)
(coll. and photo: © William Garthe, Peru, IL, USA)





33.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - mf WEYLANDI- male (ventral view)
(loc.: Cairns)
(wingspan: 117 mm)
(coll. and photo: © William Garthe, Peru, IL, USA)





34.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - ff WEYLANDI
(loc.: Cairns)
(wingspan: 140 mm)
(coll. and photo: © William Garthe, Peru, IL, USA)





35.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - ff WEYLANDI - female (ventral view)
(loc.: Cairns)
(wingspan: 140 mm)
(coll. and photo: © William Garthe, Peru, IL, USA)





36.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS EUPHORION - intermediate golden pair
(wingspan: male: 118 mm, female 124 mm)
(loc.: Cairns)
(coll. and photo: © William Garthe, Peru, IL, USA)







O. priamus richmondia

Habitat of ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS RICHMONDIA.
Blackall Range, southeast Queensland, 19 DEC 2005.
A good area for birdwings, containing many large Pararistolochia pravenosa vines (some with basal diameter ca.50 mm).
The best time to see birdwings is between 5AM - 9AM and again between 4 PM - 6 PM AEST - both sexes feed readily on Lantana.
Males usually have defined territories or flyways and patrol them around this time for freshly eclosed females.
This species is double brooded and adults may fly for a month or longer.
(John Nielsen, in litt.)
(photo: © John Nielsen, Buderim, QLD)

Male of  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS RICHMONDIA feeding on Lantana, about 1200hrs AEST, Blackall Range, southeast Queensland.
(John Nielsen, in litt.)
(photo: © John Nielsen, Buderim, QLD)



 

Vine of Pararistolochia pravenosa, Blackall Range, southeast Queensland. These vines often form thickets, with fresh trainers climbing into the canopy. Females oviposit on leaders with leaves hanging in free air. Eggs are laid singularly underneath leaves that are relatively soft but well developed, as the larvae are apparantly unable to feed on older, harder leaves. In the photo to the right, the corky vines alongside the leaves are mature leaders of P. pravenosa.
(John Nielsen, in litt.) (photo: © John Nielsen, Buderim, QLD)

Habitat of ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS RICHMONDIA.
Connondale Range State Forest, Connondale Ranges, southeast Queensland. 18 DEC 2005.
(photo: © John Nielsen, Buderim, QLD)
 

Male of ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS RICHMONDIA imbibing Lantana nectar, about 730 AM, AEST (non-daylight savings time).
Connondale Range State Forest, 19 DEC 2005.
This Lantana-dominated clearing contained about 5 males and 1 female patrolling/nectaring simultaneously.
They are difficult to approach closely and photograph while feeding.
(John Nielsen, in litt.)
(photo: © John Nielsen, Buderim, QLD)

Another male of ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS RICHMONDIA resting on lantana.
J.Nielsen spent nearly 10 minutes watching this male sail around his clearing, chasing off other males.
He left after this time and was replaced my another male shortly afterwards.
(John Nielsen, in litt.)
(photo: © John Nielsen, Buderim, QLD)

This female of ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS RICHMONDIA was feeding on honeysuckle growing over a run-down stable in
Connondal Range State Forest, 19 DEC 2005, about 0800 AEST (non-daylight savings). She left the flowers after Mr J.Nielsen
took these photographs and flew very close to him, apparantly investigating his bright blue shirt, before flopping off into the forest.
Ornithoptera in Australia at least, have a peculiar flight - wings are held high and moved so that the wing apex makes a complete circle
with the wings held high above the thorax, giving them a fluttery, sailing flight. This is often broken by a period of gliding.
Males in particular glide very spectacularly when diving to investigate a female or a flower.
(John Nielsen, in litt.)
(photo: © John Nielsen, Buderim, QLD)

37.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS RICHMONDIA - male
(loc.: Byron Bay, NSW)

38.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS RICHMONDIA - male (ventral view)
(loc.: Byron Bay, NSW)

39.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS RICHMONDIA - female
(loc.: Byron Bay, NSW)

40.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS RICHMONDIA - female (ventral view)
(loc.: Byron Bay, NSW)







O. priamus gebeensis

41.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS GEBEENSIS - female
(wingspan: 153 mm)
(loc.: Gebé Is., SEP-1991)








O. priamus teucrus

42.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS TEUCRUS - male
(loc.: Biak)

43.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS TEUCRUS - female
(loc.: Biak)






O. priamus kasandra

44.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS KASANDRA - male
(loc.: Yapen Island)

45.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS KASANDRA - female
(loc.: Yapen Island)






O. priamus poseidon

46.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON mf POSEIDON - male
(loc.: Lae, Morobe Province)

47.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON mf POSEIDON - male
(loc.: Kapiro Village, Wau District, Morobe Province, PNG)

49.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON mf TRITON trans CRONIUS - male
(loc.: Waigeo)

50.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON mf TRITON - male
(loc.: Yarera Village, Aseki Subdistrict, Morobe Prov., PNG)

51.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON mf PEGASUS - male
(loc.: Aseki, Morobe Province)

52.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON mf VIRIDO-CELLULARIS - male
(loc.: Sogeri, Central Distr., PNG, 01-APR-1975)
(leg.: R. Straatman)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

53.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ?POSEIDON loc Mambramo River mf VIRIDO-CELLULARIS comb CRONIUS - male
(loc.: Mambramo)

54.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ?POSEIDON loc Mambramo River mf VIRIDO-CELLULARIS comb PEGASUS - male
(loc.: Mambramo)

55.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ?POSEIDON loc Misool Island - male
(loc.: Misool)

56.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ?POSEIDON loc Timika - male
(loc.: Timika, Irian Jaya)

57.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff POSEIDON - female
(loc.: Babo, Irian Jaya)

60.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff NONAME - female
(loc.: Bulolo, Morobe Province)

61.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff LAVATA - female
(loc.: Lae, Morobe Province)

63.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff AURAGO
Gynandromorph - female with green male scaling on left forewing
(loc.: Minj District, W. Highlands Province, MAY-2002)
(wingspan: 153 mm)
(coll. and photo: © William Garthe, Peru, IL, USA)

64.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff AURAGO trans KIRSCHI - female
(loc.: Kapiso Village, Garraina, Morobe Province)

65.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff KIRSCHI - female 
(loc.: Garaina, Morobe Province, 06-JUN-1994)
(wingspan: 170 mm, forewing length: 100 mm)
(coll. and photo: © Ian Davies, Barongarook, Victoria, Australia)

66.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff KIRSCHI - female 
Gynandromorph? - female with green male scaling in forewings cells
(loc.: Kurumul Village, Minj District, W. Highlands Province, MAY-1999)
(wingspan: 132 mm)
(coll. and photo: © William Garthe, Peru, IL, USA)

67.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff ARLEQUINA - female
(loc.: Manokwari, Irian Jaya)

68.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff ARCHIDEUS - female
(loc.: Waigeo)

69.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff nr RADIALEI - female
(loc.: Manokwari, Irian Jaya)

70.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON ff NONAME
Gynandromorph - female with green male scaling on all wings
(loc.: Memyamya, Morobe Province, 12-DEC-1996)
(wingspan: 175 mm, forewing length: 102.5 mm)
(coll. and photo: © Ian Davies, Barongarook, Victoria, Australia)
A much enlarged image of this specimen can be viewed here

71.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS POSEIDON 
Gynandromorph - female with green male scaling on all wings
(loc.: Memyamya, Morobe Province, DEC-1996)
(wingspan: 171 mm)
(coll. and photo: © William Garthe, Peru, IL, USA)

72.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ?POSEIDON loc Mambramo River - female
(loc.: Mambramo)

73.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ?POSEIDON loc Mambramo River - female
(loc.: Mambramo)

74.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ?POSEIDON loc Mambramo River - female
(loc.: Mambramo)

75.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ?POSEIDON loc Misool Island - female
(loc.: Misool)

76.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ?POSEIDON loc Timika - female
(loc.: Timika, Irian Jaya)

O. priamus aureus

81.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS AUREUS - female (ventral view)
(loc.: Arfak Mt.)







O. priamus sterrensis

82.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS STERRENSIS - male
(loc.: Sterent Mt.)

83.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS STERRENSIS - female
(loc.: Sterent Mt.)







O. priamus demophanes

84.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS DEMOPHANES - male
(loc.: Losuia)

85.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS DEMOPHANES - male
(loc.: Milne Bay Province)

86.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS DEMOPHANES - female
(loc.: Losius, Trobriand Isls.)
 

O. priamus boisduvali

87.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS BOISDUVALI(?) - male
(loc.: Marshall Bennet Islands, PNG)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)







O. priamus admiralitatis

88.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ADMIRALITATIS - male
(loc.: Lorengau, Manus Province)

89.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS ADMIRALITATIS - female
(loc.: Lorengau, Manus Province)







O. priamus bornemanni

90.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS BORNEMANNI - male
(loc.: Kimbe, West New Britain Province)

91.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS BORNEMANNI - male
(loc.: Kinigunag)
(leg.: Carl Ribbe, ex. coll. F.E. Zeuner)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

92.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS BORNEMANNI - female
(loc.: Kimbe, West New Britain Province)

O. priamus wituensis

93.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS WITUENSIS - male
(loc.: Witu Is.)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

O. priamus miokensis

94.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS MIOKENSIS - male
(loc.: Mioko Is., Duke of York Islands)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

95.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS MIOKENSIS - female
(loc.: Mioko Is., Duke of York Islands, ex pupa 10-MAR-1972)
(leg.: H. Borch)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)






O. priamus caelestis

96.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS CAELESTIS - male
(loc.: Bwagaola, Misima Is., Milne Bay Province)

97.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS CAELESTIS - male
(loc.: Bwagaola, Misima Is., Milne Bay Province)
(wingspan: 130 mm, forewing length: 70 mm)
(coll. and photo: © Ian Davies, Barongarook, Victoria, Australia) 

98.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS CAELESTIS - male (ventral view)
(loc.: Bwagaola, Misima Is., Milne Bay Province)

99.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS CAELESTIS - female
(loc.: Bwagaola, Misima, Milne Bay Province)

100.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS CAELESTIS - female (ventral view)
(loc.: Bwagaola, Misima, Milne Bay Province)






O. priamus urvillianus

101.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS - male
(loc.: Gela, Fiorica Is., Solomon Islands)

102.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS - male (ventral view)
(loc.: Gela, Fiorica Is., Solomon Islands)

103.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS - male
(loc.: Choiseul Is., Solomon Islands)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

104.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS - male
(loc.: Maramasike Isl, Solomon Islands)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

105.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS - male
(loc.: Maramasike Isl, Solomon Islands)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

106.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS - male
(loc.: Rendova Is., Solomon Islands)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

107.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS - male
(loc.: Nggela Pile Is., Siota, 90 m)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

108.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS - male
(loc.: New Ireland, PNG)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

109.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS - female
(loc.: Buin, North Solomons Province, PNG)

110.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS - female (ventral view)
(loc.: Buin, North Solomons Province, PNG)

111.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS
(loc.: Choiseul Is., Solomon Islands)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

112.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS
(loc.: Santa Isabel Is., Solomon Islands)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

113.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS ff FUSCAPALLIDA
(loc.: Buin, Bougainville Is., North Solomon Islands)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)

114.  ORNITHOPTERA PRIAMUS URVILLIANUS ff FUSCAPALLIDA
(loc.: Buka Is., North Solomon Islands)
(coll. and photo:© Mike J. Howlett, UK)
 

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