Troides richmondia

Troides richmondia (Gray, [1853])
(erroneously: Ornithoptera richmondii)
Richmond Birdwing
PAPILIONIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

Troides richmondia
(Photo: courtesy of Geoff Sharp, Ballina)

This species is superficially similar to the Cairns Birdwing ( Troides euphorion ), and the Cape York Birdwing ( Troides priamus ), only it is smaller. Nevertheless, the status of Troides richmondia as a separate species is controversial. The species is named after the Richmond River in the valley of which it was commonly found, in northern New South Wales.

caterpillar with osmeteria everted
(Photo: courtesy of Geoff Sharp, Ballina)

The Caterpillar is dark brown with several rows of dark spines tipped with yellow. When disturbed, the caterpillar everts a pair of yellow osmeteria from behind the head. The caterpillar grows to a length of about 6 cms. It feeds on various plants in the family ARISTOLOCHIACEAE, including:

Birthwort ( Aristolochia tagala ),

Mountain Aristolochia ( Pararistolochia deltantha ),

Pararistolochia laheyana, and

Richmond Butterfly Vine ( Pararistolochia praevenosa ).

(Photo: courtesy of Geoff Sharp, Ballina)

The pupa is naked and attached to a stem or leaf of a plant by cremaster and girdle. It is normally green with flanges on the thorax, and black spikes on the abdomen. It has a length of about 4 cms.

The adult butterflies are dimorphic.

male
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The males have black forewings, each with an iridescent green streak along the costa, and similar green spots around the tornus. The hindwings are an iridescent green with black spots, and have an orange patch.

male,underside
(Photo: courtesy of Geoff Sharp, Ballina)

Underneath, they are green with black veins, spots, and margins. They have a wingspan of about 10 cms.

female
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The females are less colourful but larger. They are black with cream spots and patches, and have a wingspan of about 11 cms.

female, underside
(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island)

The eggs are yellowish-green, spherical, and have a diameter of about 2 mm. They are laid singly, usually on a foodplant.

egg, magnified
(Photo: courtesy of Todd Burrows, South Stradbroke Island)

The female butterfly is a bit dumb, and is inclined to lay her eggs on:

Dutchman's Pipe ( Aristolochia elegans, ARISTOLOCHIACEAE ),

but the Caterpillars feeding on this vine die at around the second instar because it is poisonous to them, as it is to caterpillars of Troides priamus and Atrophaneura polydorus . There is now an important project in the conservation of these Australian butterfly species to try to eliminate occurrences of

Aristolochia elegans

in the bush along the east coast of Australia, and to encourage people to grow in their gardens :

Pararistolochia praevenosa.

male, underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The butterflies were once common in

the hills inland from Byron Bay, New South Wales, and

southern Queensland,
but are now much less common.

female, underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)