Trogonoptera brookiana
| Trogonoptera brookiana | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trogonoptera brookiana |
||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Trogonoptera brookiana | ||||||||||
| ( Wallace , 1855) |
Trogonoptera brookiana (Syn .: Troides brookiana ) is a butterfly from the knightly butterfly family , which occurs in the tropical rainforests of the Thai-Malay peninsula, Borneo , Natuna and some islands west of Sumatra (Banyak, Simeulue, Batu and Mentawai). It was named after James Brooke , the first White Raja of Sarawak .
features
Adults
Trogonoptera brookiana has very showy, long wings with a wingspan of 16 to 18 centimeters for the males and 17 to 19 centimeters for the females. The wings of the males are black with an iridescent, metallic green pattern consisting of 7 tooth-shaped, triangular spots on each of the two front wings, which connect to form a band, and smaller spots on the smaller rear wings. The head is bright red and the body is black with red spots. The wings of the females are brown with showy white spots on the tip of the fore wings and the base of the hind wings; their spotting can be more variable.
From the closest relative Trogonoptera trojana , to which both sexes are very similar, they differ mainly in the larger green areas on the wings.
Caterpillars
The caterpillars of Trogonoptera brookiana are brown and black in color with light brown spines.
distribution
Three subspecies are distinguished from the species in Malaysia: T. b. albescens and T. b. mollumar live on the Thai-Malay Peninsula. The distribution area of T. b. albescens locally limited to the Malay states of Perak , Pahang and Selangor , the subspecies lives in the area of moist forest areas and along rivers. T. b. mollumar is only found in the marshland in Johore , Northeast Pahang, and Trengganu . T. b. trogon occurs in East Malaysia and on the islands near Sumatra (Banyak, Simeulue, Batu and Mentawai), Palawan and Natuna . Other subspecies have been described from various islands outside of Malaysia.
The moths are found mainly on the sandy banks of rivers and hot springs in the tropical rainforest. The habitat is limited to moist rainforest areas, but the moths can also occur close to populated areas.
Way of life
nutrition
The caterpillars feed on leaves of the pipe flower species Aristolochia foveolata .
The conspicuous males gather in groups of up to 80 individuals to drink on the banks of rivers and puddles. The newly hatched males take in sodium and potassium ions, which are necessary for the further development of the imago . The wings spread in a V-shape when drinking. The adults feed on fruit juices and flower nectar, especially on Bauhinien .
Reproduction and development
Because of the rare finds of females, it was assumed that the sex ratio of this species is strongly shifted in favor of males. It is now known that the females hide, while the males appear in more open places; however, the gender ratio is balanced.
To mate , the females are hunted by the males and evade them by diving. If a mating is accepted, this takes place in flight. However, females can also refuse the males and signal this by lying on their backs on the floor.
As soon as the female is ready to lay eggs, it flies slowly and irregularly in search of a suitable food plant, the identification of the correct plant species takes place after landing with taste and chemoreceptors on the forelegs. The female lays up to 50 small, round and white eggs. The development of the caterpillars to pupate takes place quickly, in the pupa, as in all butterflies, the metamorphosis to the imago takes place.
Taxonomy
The butterfly was first described scientifically in 1855 by the British researcher Alfred Russel Wallace , who named it Ornithoptera brookeana . It was named after James Brooke , the first White Raja of Sarawak . The species was later transferred from the genus Ornithoptera to the genus Trogonoptera , with an assignment to the genus Troides being discussed.
protection
Trogonoptera brookiana is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is protected accordingly.
supporting documents
- ↑ Subspecies in The World of Birdwing Butterflies
- ↑ www.cites.org CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) - Appendices
literature
- Yong Hoi-Sen: Malaysian Butterflies - an introduction. 4th edition, Tropical Press, Kuala Lumpur 1989, ISBN 967-73-0017-2 , pp. 26-27.
Web links
- www.butterflycorner.net (English / German)
- ARKive photos, videos and information.