Butterflies of
Thailand, Malaysia &
Borneo
Common Birdwing
Troides helena
LINNAEUS, 1758
Family - PAPILIONIDAE
subfamily -
PAPILIONINAE
Tribe - TROIDINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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Troides helena cerberus,
Kuala Woh, West Malaysia |
Introduction
There are 21 species in the genus Troides,
although Trogonoptera ( 2 species )
and Ornithoptera
( 13 species ) are additionally included by some
taxonomists. In captivity commercial breeders have been able to
produce hybrids between these genera, but they are infertile.
The true
Troides Birdwings all have black
forewings, often marked with white along the edges of the veins;
and areas of metallic golden yellow on the hindwings. The yellow
areas are iridescent, and at extreme angles can reflect green
violet, orange or purple hues.
Troides helena is the commonest and
most widespread species, being found in India, Myanmar,
Thailand, Vietnam, south China, Taiwan, West Malaysia,
Singapore, Sumatra, Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, Kalimantan,
Sulawesi, Java and Bali.
Habitats
This species is found in primary and secondary rainforest at
elevations between sea level and about 800 metres.
Lifecycle
All
Troides,
Trogonoptera and Ornithoptera
species use Aristolochiaceae as their larval foodplants.
Troides helena has been recorded on
Aristolochia indica,
A. tagala, and
Bragantia wallichi.
The eggs are
large, spherical, pink in colour, but coated in an orange
glutinous substance. They are laid singly on the upper surface
of leaves of the foodplants, on the midrib, near the tip.
The
caterpillar, which is toxic to birds, when fully grown is
dull brown, with a broad white diagonal bar along the side of
the middle section. It has several rows of long recurved fleshy
protuberances along the back and sides.
The chrysalis
resembles a dead leaf. It is pale olive-brown colour, marked
with fine striations, and has a dull yellowish saddle mark on
the back. The abdomen is curved into an S shape, and has a
double row of dorsal thorns. It is attached vertically to a
stem, or sometimes suspended beneath a leaf, attached by the
cremaster and a strong silken girdle.
Adult behaviour
In the morning
the females sit on foliage high in the trees, while males glide
in broad circles above them trying to locate potential mates.
Upon discovering a female the male performs an elaborate
quivering courtship dance several metres above her, before
alighting beside her to copulate.
Later in the
day both sexes can be seen fluttering around
flowering
trees and bushes including Lantana.
When nectaring they usually keep the wings constantly
fluttering, although I have on occasions seen them basking on
flowers in the Danum valley in Borneo.
Towards late
afternoon both sexes begin to seek roosting sites. At Ulu Gerok
in Malaysia for example I have watched males flying deep into
the foliage of trees, where they rest in the shade with their
wings outspread.
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