Ornithoptera

I. Genus Ornithoptera Boisduval, 1832^1）

Type Species: Papilio Eques Trojanus priamus Linnaeus, 1758

(= Ornithoptera (Ornithoptera) priamus Linnaeus, 1758)

 

The genus Ornithoptera consists of the follow four subgenera:

[1] Subgenus Aetheoptera Rippon, 1890

[2] Subgenus Straatmana Deslisle, 2007

[3] Subgenus Ornithoptera Boisduval, 1832

[4] Subgenus Schoenbergia Pagenstecher, 1893

 

The subgenus Aetheoptera is distributed in Solomon Islands, the subgenus Straatmana in Popondetta region of PNG, the subgenera Ornithoptera and Schoenbergia in New Guinea and surrounding islands. [DCD 2]. All of these butterflies are large, with some of the largest having wingspan of over 24 cm. The males of each subgenera have their own unique beauty, but the females of four genera are share the similar coloration and pattern and are so different from the males that it is hard to believe they are the same species. In addition to the pattern, the subgenera Aetheoptera and Straatmana have long and slender FW (=forewings) and HW (=hindwings), and the subgenus Aetheoptera has an anal notch of HW. Paradisea-Species-Group of the subgenus Schoenbergia has a peculiarly shaped tail.