Орнитоптера Голиаф: гигантская бабочка Новой Гвинеи

Species of birdwing butterfly

Ornithoptera goliath, the Goliath birdwing, is a birdwing butterfly found in New Guinea. It is the second largest butterfly in the world, after the Queen Alexandra's birdwing.

Both the specific and vernacular name are named after Goliath, the biblical giant famous for his combat with the young David, the future king of Israel. The subspecific names atlas, titan and samson refer to other giants namely Atlas, Titan and Samson.

The larvae are monophagous on a species of Aristolochia which can be 20 or more metres high and so reaching into the canopy. The eggs, up to 20, are laid singly on small plants or severally on larger plants. The young larvae feed on new leaves, as they grow they feed on older leaves and finally on the bark of the stems which may be severed. The vine may be eaten down to the root. Pupation is on the underside of a leaf of a nearby shrub close to the host plant remains. Adult butterflies fly in the host plant's immediate habitat feeding on forest tree flowers especially those of the introduced Spathodea campanulata during the morning. The males have cryptic underside colouring and cannot easily be seen when resting in the warmer hours of the day. Females rest with the wings open. Flight is leisurely, but controlled and powerful. Males pursue their females for long distances, rising high over the forest canopy then folding their wings and diving down to tree level to mate, even though they risk hindwing damage by the sharp tarsal claws of females. Males suffer similar damage when attacked by males of Ornithoptera priamus.

Ornithoptera goliath lives in rainforests of New Guinea and adjacent smaller islands.

The villagers of New Guinea farm these butterflies as a means of generating income, often by selling the specimens to foreign collectors. Harvesting the butterflies is legal given that a permit is obtained. Butterfly farming allows the villagers to acquire income from the environment without destroying it, preventing damage to wild populations of an uncommon butterfly. In his 1983 report to the Department of Primary Industries, Papua New Guinea, M. J. Parsons wrote that "Ironically it is now becoming an accepted fact that the very demand for Ornithoptera is one of the main assets which will ensure their future survival if they can be exploited in the correct way." A mosaic gynandromorph specimen of this species, sold by a Taiwanese dealer for US$28,000 in July 2006, possibly set the world record for the highest price paid for a butterfly. The Goliath birdwing is listed on CITES Appendix II, limiting the international exportation of the species to those who are granted a permit. The IUCN has classified this butterfly as a species of "least concern", but does not have a known population trend.

D'Abrera, B. (1975). Birdwing Butterflies of the World. Country Life Books, London. Haugum, J. & Low, A. M. (1978 1985). A Monograph of the Birdwing Butterflies. 2 volumes. Scandinavian Press, Klampenborg; 663 pp. Straatman, Raymond; & Schmid, F. (1975). Notes on the biology of Ornithoptera goliath and O. chimaera (Papilionidae). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 29: 85–88. pdf