Rajah Brooke Birdwing Butterfly
Ranked #2,664 in Pets & Animals, #69,197 overall
Rajah Brooke Birdwing Butterfly
Creating beautiful flashes of color when gathered in large groups,Rajah Brooke's birdwing are dramatically patterned butterflies. The male's elongated, jet black forewings are decorated with metallic green triangles along the edges and there is a small area of iridescent azure blue towards the butterfly's body. The black hind wing of the male is smaller than the forewing and also has a large area of green coloration. The body and antennae of this species are black, and the head is red. Females have browner wings with white patches in place of the green found on males. The caterpillars are brown and green with paler brown spikes. There are many subspecies and all differ slightly in their coloration.
The Rajah Brooke Birdwing lives in rainforests. It eats fruits and nectar. They were discovered by famous British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace during one of his expeditions to Borneo in 1855. He named it in honor of his friend Sir James Brooke, the Rajah of Sarawak.
Contents at a Glance
Range
They Cover Vast Area in South East Asia
Photo by Ibnu Yusuf
Rajah Brooke's is found in Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra, as well as many Sumatra's offshore islands. It has at least 11 subspecies: Trogonoptera brookiana albescens inhabits Myanmar, Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia;
T.B. mollumar inhabits peninsular Malaysia, T.b. trogon inhabits Sumatra, Simeulue Island and the Sipura Islands; T.b. jikoi inhabits the Tungku Islands and the Banyak Islands; T.b akikoae inhabits the Tanahmasa Islands; T.B mariae inhabits Batu Islands; T.b toshikii (also known as T.b apolloniae) inhabits Siberut Island; T.b. cardinaali inhabits the Singkep Islands and the Lingga Island; T.b. natunensis inhabits the Natuna Islands; T.b. brookiana inhabits North Borneo; T.b. haugumei inhabits East Kalimantan.
Habitat
Found on the sandy banks of rivers and hot springs within rainforest. This species has a wing expanse of 6-6.75 inches
Biology
This species normally will gathers in group of up to 80 individuals to drink from puddles. Newly males must absorb mineralized water containing the sodium and potassium ions necessary to activate adult behavior. Holding the wings in a V-shape, the butterflies drink and squirt the excess water from the abdomen in small jets or droplets. Rajah Brooke's Butterfly also drinks nectar from Bauhinia plant species.
It was previously thought that the sex ratio of this species favored males, as females are rarely encountered, but there are now known to be equal numbers of males and females, although females are secretive and elusive. Courtship takes place in flight and the males will chase the female as she dives to evade him. If she accepts his advances, they will mate in flight;however, she may reject him, displaying her intention by lying with the wings flat on the ground and the abdomen pointing upwards. Some males do not court the females,instead ambushing them in order to mate. Once the female is ready to lay eggs, she flies slowly and erratically in search of a food-plant,identifying the correct plant species using taste-sensitive chemoreptors on the forelegs. Up to 50 small,round,white eggs are laid on the plant, hatching to produce caterpillars that rapidly consume the leaves before pupating. In the pupa, metamorphosis occurs before an adult butterfly emerges.
Community of Birdwing Butterfly
A group of male Rajah Brooke's Birdwings drinking at a moist spot, a behavior known as "puddling"
DRESSING FOR A SHOOT
If you want to shoot this butterfly - the world-renowned Rajah Brooke's Birdwing - in its natural habitat you need to trek into the forest. Dress appropriately and you will enjoy your outing.
ONE can take a lesson in dressing from the bird-watchers, or twitchers as they are often called. Avoid colorful and "glaring" clothing. Dress in some old and drab clothes that you do not mind getting soiled. You may have to kneel, squat, sit on the ground or even lie on your stomach to get that shot of a lifetime. A ramble in the belukar or the forest in pursuit of butterflies will soon get you quite dirty whether or not you get your prize-winning picture.
In the experience of photographer, khaki trousers and a light-brown, long-sleeved shirt are best. You get a lower success rate when dressed in light or colorful garb. In the experience of photographer, butterflies are more aware of the movements of any light-colored or colorful objects. It also makes sense to wear a pair of leech socks when you venture into the bush or forest. These are made of tightly-woven material, such as muslin, to protect you from leeches. You can concentrate on photography only when you are secure in the knowledge that you have been "insulated" against these insidious blood-suckers.
Birdwing Butterfly
There is different type of species
Birdwings are much prized not only for their sized, but also for their brilliant coloring and aesthetic shape.
"Poseidon Birdwing Butterfly"
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
A tailed birdwing from New Guinea
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ornithoptera priamus
"Richmond Birdwing Butterfly"
"Cairn's Birdwing Butterfly"
"Poseidon Birdwing Butterfly"
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
A tailed birdwing from New Guinea
ornithoptera priamus
"Richmond Birdwing Butterfly" "Cairn's Birdwing Butterfly"
Lydius Birdwing
Green Birdwing
Golden Birdwing
Cape_York Birdwing
Goliath Birdwing
Threats
These butterflies are threatened by habitat loss, as rain forest are removed for urbanization and conversion to agriculture. Loss of tree cover and vegetation around rivers can cause them to run dry, as water is not retained in the soil. This also causes soil erosion and both these factors are potential threats to existing Rajah Brooke's butterfly.
Butterfly Flower
Have you ever seen flower with a shape of Butterfly? If you don't believe me, you can see the above picture or you can check it here
Majestic Rajah Brooke Birdwing Butterfly.
Bird Wing Butterfly vids
Butterfly Bay
Mug with birdwing, insect, butterfly
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Birdwing Butterfly With L Embroidery on a Ultra Cotton 10ounce Crewneck Sweatshirt
Garment Name: Birdwing Butterfly With L Embroidery more...0 points
Birdwing Butterfly With L Embroidery on a Laurel Ladies Lined Spring Jacket in Rose
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Sweatshirt with birdwing, insect, butterfly
Gildan - Crewneck SweatshirtA value fleece, made from more...0 points
Quoizel Cream Butterfly Tiffany 1 Light Accent Lamp
Part of the Butterflies collection, a Tiffany Trea more...0 points
Trogonoptera Brookiana (Rajah Brooke Birdwing Butterfly)
Two Beautiful Rajah Brooke's Birdwing Butterfly
Female Rajah Brooke's Birdwing
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Reader Feedback
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jadehorseshoe
Dec 23, 2011 @ 8:23 pm | delete
- Another Fine Looking Lens!
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vallain
Apr 9, 2011 @ 10:37 pm | delete
- What an amazingly beautiful butterfly! This lens is blessed by a Squidoo angel and will be featured on the Best Insect Web Pages on Squidoo.
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Debbie
Jan 21, 2011 @ 12:46 am | delete
- i have a vintage iridescent glass bowl/dish with a real rajah butterfly in the middle. It has a sunflower shape and has a sticker shaped like a butterfly reading Nabire. Anyone know what it is?
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mayorlan
Dec 6, 2010 @ 10:17 am | delete
- I must say you have a nice lens here.
Ceramic Table Lamp
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audioguidemalaysia
Jun 2, 2010 @ 3:37 am | delete
- One of the best things about Malaysia is nature. If you'd like to see some butterflies in the city, head to the Butterfly Farm in Kuala Lumpur. It has the best collection in the country. But a little pricey though as it is a tourist area. But it's worth the splurge.
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