1) Sp. victoriae (Gray, 1856)11)
Population of O. (A.) victoriae, which is distributed in Bougainville (PNG) and the six large islands of Solomon Islands, have often been divided into 7 subspecies. However, with exception of ssp. rubianus from New Georgia Islands, which has unique coloration and pattern, the differences among these subspecies are minor and moreover many specimens with intermediate or transient characteristics are known. So that there is the idea that the nominate victoriae and ssp. rubianus are subspecies and the others are local form (Deslisle & Sclavo, 20158)).
Ssp. isabellae (Rothschild & Jordan, 1901)
Ssp. rubianus (Rothschild, 1904)
(Distribution)
Buka Is., Bougainville Is. (PNG) and Solomon Islands. [DCD 3]
![[DCD 3]](https://www.ag.kagawa-u.ac.jp/birdwingbutterflies/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DCD3-scaled.jpg){kind=link}
(Vertical distribution)
0 – 1,500 m. a. s. l.
(Spotted pattern)
♂: The iridescent markings on FW upper side are proper and divided into the subapical and the basal patches. Some semi-translucent golden spots on submarginal area of HW are present, except for ssp. rubianus, which lacks it.
♀: Resembles other Birdwing Butterflies, but this species is characterized by the cell-spot of FW extending from the base of the wing and the separation of the discal spot of HW inside and outside by the dark discal spot. (In other subgenus, the dark discal spot is isolated within the discal spot, so the discal spot is not separated internally and externally.)
(Larval foodplant)
Aristolochia tagala, A. goliathiana.15)