About Ornithoptera euphorion (Gray, 1853)
Ornithoptera euphorion, commonly known as the Cairns birdwing, has a maximum wingspan of 15 cm (5.9 in) for females and 12.5 cm (4.9 in) for males, with females being the larger of the two sexes. This species is closely related to Ornithoptera priamus, also called the New Guinea or Priam's birdwing, which reaches a wingspan of 19 cm (7.5 in) and is the largest butterfly species found in Australia, though it is not endemic to Australia. It is also quite closely related to Ornithoptera richmondia, differing from that species through its greater size and more extensive green markings on males. Male Ornithoptera euphorion have predominantly black upper wings with emerald green flashes, while females lack this green colouring and have plain black upper wings with white patches. One spectacular, rare genetic mutation has been recorded in this butterfly: a single aberrant female produced fewer than 40 aberrant offspring. In this mutated line, females were pale rather than dark, and males were golden rather than green. Cairns birdwings are distributed from Mount Webb and Cooktown southwards to Mackay in Queensland, Australia. Their favoured habitat is rainforest in Queensland's wet tropics region, including riverine forest, and they are found particularly near the coast. They are also often seen in the city of Cairns, where they are attracted to the flowers of Lantana, Hibiscus and Bougainvillea in suburban gardens. The species is abundant across its entire range and is not threatened.
