paulberridge
Cairns Birdwing ButterflyA 18 3 18
We have the vine planted in a few spots around our yard. However the green ants give us a run for our money. Its a race between us and the ants to get the caterpillars off the vine. If we are a bit slow they clean them out in no time.
Cairns Birdwing. Ornithoptera euphorion
Both sexes support their weight when feeding at flowers by rapidly fluttering their wings. Males occasionally compete for flowers with other nectarivores, such as small birds, and usually succeed at driving them off by aggressively flying towards them.
They have a rather short life span as a butterfly only lasting four to five weeks.
Australia's largest endemic butterfly species. The wingspan can be up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in females, and 12.5 cm (4.9 in) in males.
There was a spectacular and rare genetic mutation of this butterfly, where single aberrant female produced less than 40 aberrant progeny. The females were pale instead of dark, and the males were golden instead of green. Facebook Page: P&M Wildlife and Nature Photography
Cairns Birdwing ButterflyA 18 3 18
We have the vine planted in a few spots around our yard. However the green ants give us a run for our money. Its a race between us and the ants to get the caterpillars off the vine. If we are a bit slow they clean them out in no time.
Cairns Birdwing. Ornithoptera euphorion
Both sexes support their weight when feeding at flowers by rapidly fluttering their wings. Males occasionally compete for flowers with other nectarivores, such as small birds, and usually succeed at driving them off by aggressively flying towards them.
They have a rather short life span as a butterfly only lasting four to five weeks.
Australia's largest endemic butterfly species. The wingspan can be up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in females, and 12.5 cm (4.9 in) in males.
There was a spectacular and rare genetic mutation of this butterfly, where single aberrant female produced less than 40 aberrant progeny. The females were pale instead of dark, and the males were golden instead of green. Facebook Page: P&M Wildlife and Nature Photography