TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae

Genus/species; Troides rhadamantus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The top and bottom of the forewings are black with the veins bordered by white.
The underside of T. rhadamantus is very similar to the topside.
The top and bottomsides of the hind wings of T. rhadamantus are golden with the veins and the edge of the wing black.
The abdomens top is black with a yellow underside. Head and thorax are black.

Wing span up to 23 cm or 9 inches (large for a swallowtail butterfly)

DISTRIBUTION: Philippines

DIET: Feeding on nectar from large flowers and are often seen circling the hibiscus trees.
Host Plant: Arstolochia sp

PREDATION: Its bright yellow and black coloration is a warning that it tastes bad. The caterpillars feed on a plant which has distasteful chemicals.

IUCN No entry

REMARKS: The Golden Birdwing has heat sensing cells at the base of its wings to warn it of sudden changes in temperature. This protects them from overheating.

References

California Academy of Sciences Rainforest 2017

Missouri Botanical Garden  www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/visit/family-of-attractio…

EOL eol.org/pages/130796/overview

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/33365959661/in/album-72157608449327886/

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1O3