Home-grown Cairns Birdwing Butterflies

Last year I planted a native Dutchman's Pipe, Aristolochia tagala (host plant for the Cairns Birdwing Butterfly, Ornithoptera euphorion) with little hope that it would actually get any visits. What a surprise one sunny Saturday morning earlier this year when a lone female flitted across the garden directly to the vine, followed within a few weeks by the noticeable decline in the number of leaves on the plant. What follows are a series of photos taken of the caterpillars, chrysalis and butterflies successfully raised on the vine this year. Next year, more vines!

First instar caterpillar recently hatched.

Second instar caterpillar. 

Caterpillar molting

Spiracles, used for breathing.

Red tubules on the caterpillar's head inflate from time to time, for example when it's aggravated.

Chrysalis. I noticed these blacken about 1-2 days before emergence.

Male birdwing emerging. My two males both emerged at 31 days. Two females emerged at 27 days, 1 at 29 days.

Newly emerged male birdwing. Wings are still crumpled.

Female birdwing, recently emerged.

Wing of male birdwing, recently emerged.

Female birdwing, recently emerged. Note the liquid lense within the proboscis.

More of my Cairns Birdwing photos are at my Cairns Birdwing imgur gallery.

Photos taken with a Canon Rebel T3i/EOS 600D digital SLR and Canon 100 mm macro lens.

First Play with Copic Sketch Markers, March 2013

I received my first copic sketch markers in March 2013. Below are the first pictures drawn with the pens, and the colours used. The paper used below was a watercolour paper. Not ideal as the markers bleed. There are many websites providing reviews of paper. My current preference is X-Press It Blending Card (250gsm).

Unfortunately the colours don't really show true in the photos, but it's close. I'll try to work out more accurate lighting and camera settings for future photos.

Plum, 9 March 2013

Plum

Sketch made with Copic Multiliner 1.0, black.

Copic colours: 

B21, B24, B29, V01, 0 Colourless Blender.

Small Fruit

Small Fruit, 9 March 2013

Sketches made with Copic Multiliner 1.0, black.

Copic colours: 

Top left: B21, B24, B29, V01, 0 Colourless Blender and Derwent Pastel P260 Violet.

Top centre: YG00, YG03, YG06, YG09, 0 Colourless Blender.

Top right: V01, V04, V06, V09, 0 Colourless Blender

Bottom left: Derwent Pastel P350 Prussion Blue, P260 Violet, P710 Carbon Black.

Bottom right: Derwent Coloursoft C300 Indigo, C140 Deep Fuchsia, Copic Multiliner.

Apples, 10 March 2013

Apples

Sketches made with Copic Multiliner 0.3, black.

Copic Colours (not all used in each apple)
YG01, YG03, YG06, YG09

Pears

Pear, 10 March 2013

Sketches made with Copic Multiliner 1.0, black.

Copic Colours
YG00, YG03, YG06, YG09

Pears below made with some combination of these colours.

Pears, 10 March 2013

Plum

Plum, 10 March 2013

Sketches made with Copic Multiliner 1.0, black.

Copic Colours
V01, V04, V06, V09, 0 Colourless Blender.