top of page
(Trogonoptera brookiana)
Butterfly populations are a very good indicator of the health of an area's ecosystem !!
   The Rajah Brooke Birdwing is the national symbol of Malaysia.
   Their preferred terrain is sandy banks of rivers and hot springs in tropical rainforests.
   They fly with very fast and powerful wing flaps.(The flight of the Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing is as erratic as it is graceful, a testament to its agility and strength.)
   Males are recognized by their vibrant green and black wing coloration, whereas females exhibit a more subdued palette of brown and dull yellow.
   The wings of males are primarily black.
   Each forewing has seven tooth shaped bright green markings, while there is a relatively large bright green patch on the hindwings.
   The head is bright red and the body is black with red markings.
   The wings of females are browner with prominent white flashes at the tips of the forewings and at the base of the hindwings.
   Females differ not only in appearance but also in behavior, rarely being seen at  low altitudes. She spends most time in the canopy, often up to 10 m above the ground.
   Males are known for gathering in groups, sometimes up to 80 individuals, to drink mineralized water from puddles. This activity is crucial for absorbing sodium and potassium, essential minerals for triggering their adult behavior.
   Another intriguing aspect of their behavior is their mating ritual, which involves elaborate dances and displays to attract mates, showcasing the complex social interactions within the species.
   Their average lifespan is short, being only seven days approximately.
Rajah Brooke Birdwing.png
Diet: caterpillars eat leaves from the plants Aristolochia acuminata and A. foveolata, that contain toxic compounds making the caterpillars and adult butterflies unpalatable to predators.

Diet: adults sip flower nectar from plants such as BauhiniaThey also puddle in groups of up to 80 to take requisite salt and minerals from the mud they’re puddling in.

Wingspan: 15 – 17 cm /  5.9 – 6.7 “
Family: Papilionidae
Rajah Brooke caterpillar Cr.jpg
The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!
butterfly-20clipart-2-butterflies.gif
bottom of page