Meet Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing – The Biggest Butterfly in the world!

Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing is the biggest butterfly in the world and known for its vibrant color. It is found in the Papua New Guinea tropical rainforests. They can live up to 3-4 months.

The species is relatively new and was discovered by English naturalist and wildlife collector Albert Stewart Meek in 1906. Working for a rich collector, Meek collected the first specimen by shooting it.

This butterfly is named after Edward VII’s wife, Alexandra of Denmark. (Edward VII was King of England at the time of the butterfly’s discovery).

The males of these giant arthropods are much smaller in size than their female ones. The species has been declared as ‘EN’ (Endangered) by the IUCN Red List since they are decreasing in population due to deforestation and resultant habitat loss. However, Today we will know about Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Butterfly’s habitat, diet, and many more. So, here we go…

Their Lifecycle?

Butterfly’s life goes through four different life stages. It takes about a month for the egg to mature into an adult. Here are their 4 life stages:

Egg: A butterfly starts its life as an egg. The female Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing lays its eggs on the pipevine plant (Aristolochia schlecteri). When the egg hatches, its meals (the leaves of this plant) are easily available.

Caterpillar: The larva (caterpillar) hatches from an egg and eats Aristolochia schlecteri (pipevine) leaves almost constantly. The caterpillar molts (loses its old skin) many times as it grows. The caterpillar is black with red tentacles, a cream-colored spot in the middle of its body, and long, fleshy tentacles all over its body.

Pupa: It turns into a pupa (chrysalis) the size of a person’s thumb. As the body transforms into a butterfly within the chrysalis, it neither eats nor drinks.

Adult: A beautiful, flying adult appears. There is no growth during this stage, but the butterfly will sip nectar from flowers. This adult will continue the cycle by reproducing. The life span of the adult is about 3 months.

Where they are found?

The Queen Alexandra’s birdwing lives in a small area of lowland tropical rainforest in the Oro Province, southeast Papua New Guinea. They have been found inside or nearby of that rainforest. The area in which the butterfly is found is about 1,200 sq. km / 463 sq. mi.

What about their diet?

This Butterfly aka caterpillar’s first meal is its own eggshell. After that, the caterpillars eat the pipevine plant (Aristolochia Schlechteri), including its poison into their bodies, becoming distasteful to predators. However, The plant is a long-leaved, tree-climbing vine with seed pods.

Butterflies can only sip liquid food using its tube-like proboscis, which is a long, flexible “tongue.” It is used to feed them from flowers.

Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Predators?

Except for humans, This large butterfly doesn’t have many natural predators, although it may be predated by some varieties of spiders and birds.

How to identify Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Butterfly?

Female: Female Queen Alexandra’s birdwings are larger than males with marked rounder, broader wings. The female butterfly’s wingspan can reach an incredible 28 cm (11 in.), a body length of 8 cm (3.1 in) and a body mass of up to 12 g. The female has brown wings with white markings arranged as two rows of chevrons. The hindwings are brown with a submarginal line of centered yellow triangles. The body is cream-colored and there is a small section of red fur on the brown thorax.

Male: The wings are long with angular apices. They are bright bluish-green with a black central band. There is a pronounced sex brand. The underside is green or blue-green with black veins. They are smaller than females. Their belly is bright yellow. The wingspan of the males can be approximately 20 cm (8 in), on average 16 cm (6.3 in). The hindwing is extended with a black background, sub-marginal cell, and wing margin.

How it comes close to endanger?

The Queen Alexandra’s birdwing is considered endangered by the IUCN, is restricted to approximately 100 km (40 sq mi) of coastal rainforest near Popondetta, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. Rainforests are needed in abundance for their long-term survival.

The major threat for this species is habitat destruction for oil palm plantations. The eruption of nearby Mount Lamington in the 1950s destroyed a very large area of this species’ former habitat and is a key reason for its current rarity.

Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Butterfly Facts in Brief

• Scientific name: Ornithoptera alexandrae

• Animal Family: Papilionidae (swallowtail butterfly family)

• Where Found: Forests in the Oro Province of Papua New Guinea

• Lifespan: They live up to 3 months.

• Wingspan: (Females) up to 28 cm (11 in.), males up to 20 cm (9 in.)

• Weight: 12 g (0.42 oz.)

• Conservation Status: Endangered

• The female is bigger than the male, but the male has brighter colors.

• The female of the species is capable of laying over 240 eggs throughout its life.

• The caterpillars are adapted to consuming its toxic host plant, eating which, they themself become toxic to their enemies and predators.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Thanks for reading!

📷Remember: Always be friendly with animals :-D, never try to irritate them, they also do the same with you. Unless you can’t do help, just ignore them but not kill them.

Meet Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing – The Biggest Butterfly in the world!
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