#troides euphorion

[rattyexplores]

A teeny tiny Cairns birdwing caterpillar trying to threaten me with its osmeterium (the forked tongue on its forehead).

Ornithoptera / Troides euphorion, “Cairns Birdwing”

12/06/21

[rattyexplores]

𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒆𝒖𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒏

A.K.A Ornithoptera euphorion, “Cairns Birdwing”

Order Lepidoptera Superfamily Papilionoidea Family Papilionidae “Swallowtails, Birdwings”

The Adult butterfly is pictured above, though I couldn’t get a good shot of the upper wing patterns. You can find a clearer image in the source below. The butterfly’s colors and patterns change with the sexes as well. It’s wing span is 15 CM in females, and 12.5 CM in males.

The Pupae, Like other Swallowtails, are attached to a branch/twig by a small thread. 

The Larval stage is pictured above. It’s quite a large caterpillar, though I cannot find an exact size online. The final instars are big enough to fit quite comfortably in the palm of hand.

The larvae feeds on a variety of plants, including:

Aristolochia indica “Indian Birthwort”

Aristolochia praevenosa “Richmond Butterfly Vine”

Aristolochia tagala “Birthwort”

Pararistolochia deltantha “Mountain Aristolochia” 

(First instars only) Aristolochia littoralis “Elegant Dutchman’s Pipe”

This species occurs in North Queensland, between Cooktown and Mackay.

24/12/20, source - RatteJak

[rattyexplores]

Old study 22/09/20 A study from September filled with anecdotes about the first Birdwing caterpillar I had found. These photos also give good scale as to just how gigantic the caterpillar is. BTW, the video I’m referring to seems to be gone... It’d be on my computer somewhere, but it ain’t on Tumblr no more.

Main entry, 24/12/20

“Lepidoptera study - 22/09/20

Troides priamus, or the Cairns’ birdwing.

One of the most well-known butterflies in Australia, the caterpillar is a lot less familiar. I hope this post sheds some light in things.

This caterpillar is a late instar, though I’m not sure how far they are from pupating. Unlike other caterpillars, these birdwings are big and fat (I love their chubby prolegs,,).

The caterpillar also has retractable orange horns (see in first video). These horns pop out when the caterpillar feels threatened. Very strange… A big fat caterpillar is already threatening to me if I were an insect, I don’t think orange horns would do much.

Those orange horns are called “Osmeterium”, and when ejected, they excrete a fetid terpene-based compound. It’s basically a stinky acidic tongue. Along with that, Papilionidae also eat toxic plants, which can make them unappealing to predators.

So much information for one caterpillar..”