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Troides helena cerberus (C & R Felder, 1865)
| Family Name: | Papilionidae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Invertebrates (Butterfly and Moth) |
| Common Name: | Common Birdwing |
Name
Description
| Description | Common Birdwing has a distinctive golden yellow hindwings with black margins. Female has a full series of large black sub-marginal spots. Male has one or more smaller sub-marginal spots. |
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Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | It is essentially a jungle species but is drawn to cultivated areas where its host plant, Aristolochia acuminata, can be found. Both sexes are usually observed flying at treetop level and occasionally descend to feed on flowering plants. |
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| Habitats | Forest, Parks & Gardens |
| Distribution | The species is widely distributed, from northern India to Hong Kong, through Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore to the Indonesian islands. |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | The species is vulnerable as it depends on the availability of its host plant. It is also sought after by collectors due to its large size and spectacular colours. It has the distinction of being the only extant species in Singapore which is listed on the CITES checklist. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | Very attractive in gardens and forested areas, adding to visitor enjoyment. |
| Conservation Notes | This species depends on the availability of its host plant, Aristolochia tagala for its continued existence in Singapore. The cultivation of this host plant could be part of an overall conservation strategy to maintain a healthy population of this species. |
Status
| Conservation Status | Moderately Common |
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| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Vulnerable (VU) [2008], Endangered (E) [1994] |
| CITES | Appendix II |
Photos
References
| References | Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp Khew, S.K. 2010. A field guide to the butterflies of Singapore. Singapore: Ink On Paper Communications Pte Ltd. 342pp |
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