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.