Troides helena cercerus - C & R Felder 1865    The Common Birdwing

                                          upperside                     Male                       underside                         close up showing no dusting                               upperside                   Female                   underside
Flight Period Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  X X X X X X X X X X X X
Wingspan : 100 - 140mm

Species details: A very well known species, and the commoner of the two Birdwing butterflies found on Samui.

This is a species much in demand for Butterfly 'Art', and has been given total protection by the Thai Government. Whilst primarily a forest species, this species can be found visiting gardens where it likes to feed on Ixora flowers.

Early Stages         : More detailed life history information is available from the following resources: S. Igarishi - Life Histories of Asian Butterflies, Volume.1 , Page 269.
                                                                  3rd instar larva                                          4th instar larva                                          5th instar larva                                              pupa

Larval Foodplant : Aristolochia tagala (Dutch Man's Pipe)

Range                    : North India to Hainan and Hong Kong, through Sundaland to the Lesser Sunda Islands and Sulawesi.