Ornithoptera victoriae

[daveuk]

Males of three subspecies with data. Top male is the nominate subspecies. I have females of the nominate & reginae but neither are in very good condition.

[Chuck]

This pair is labeled "Solomons Province Bougainville" which is redundant. I don't know the name of the gold form of the male. The damage to the male HW I did did (grrrrr) while repositioning the female for this photo.

[daveuk]

This pair is labeled "Solomons Province Bougainville" which is redundant. I don't know the name of the gold form of the male. The damage to the male HW I did did (grrrrr) while repositioning the female for this photo.

That is bad news to say the least Chuck. I get really annoyed with myself when I do things like that. That's a really unusual & beautiful male too.

[Trehopr1]

Here is one of 4 male O. victoria which I have (along
with one female). I'll have to get pictures of my others
at some point.

Data: O.victoria reginae, Little Malaita Is., Oct. 1975



This birdwing species is my personal favorite for its wing shape
and at least 6 described subspecies. I think that I could easily
see myself owning at least 15 or 20 males (alone) if money were
no object. There is just SO MUCH variation that goes on in this
species !

[Panacanthus]

This birdwing species is my personal favorite for its wing shape
and at least 6 described subspecies. I think that I could easily
see myself owning at least 15 or 20 males (alone) if money were
no object. There is just SO MUCH variation that goes on in this
species !

I agree with you Trehopr1! This is my favorite birdwing also. Well, perhaps after alexandrae! But there is just something so elegant and beautiful about its shape and color pattern, and I feel their iridescence is quite unique among the birdwings as well, with a depth and richness unique to the species. The one subspecies which has eluded me, mainly because of the restrictions with the Solomon Islands, is maramasikensis.

[daveuk]

Here is one of 4 male O. victoria which I have (along
with one female). I'll have to get pictures of my others
at some point.

Data: O.victoria reginae, Little Malaita Is., Oct. 1975


This birdwing species is my personal favorite for its wing shape
and at least 6 described subspecies. I think that I could easily
see myself owning at least 15 or 20 males (alone) if money were
no object. There is just SO MUCH variation that goes on in this
species !

I agree about the variation Trehopr & the fact that it is a very beautiful species.I too have males of four subspecies & females of three. Pictures of my pair of O. victoriae epiphanes & females of nominate & reginae. Females in slightly better condition than I remembered. The female reginae is huge but has no proper data sadly & was quite bashed about before I got her.

[daveuk]

I agree with you Trehopr1! This is my favorite birdwing also. Well, perhaps after alexandrae! But there is just something so elegant and beautiful about its shape and color pattern, and I feel their iridescence is quite unique among the birdwings as well, with a depth and richness unique to the species. The one subspecies which has eluded me, mainly because of the restrictions with the Solomon Islands, is maramasikensis.

Would love to see pictures of your specimens sometime if you have any.

[mothman55]

My victoriae drawer.

DSCF4860.JPG (729.59 KiB) Viewed 223 times

[daveuk]

My Victoria drawer.

Absolutely beautiful specimens. Thanks for sharing

[livingplanet3]

My Victoria drawer....

Superb!

[adamcotton]

My victoriae drawer.

Superb!

Adam.

[joachim]

really really wonderful

[Trehopr1]

Now that's what I'm talking about !

I clearly see rubianus, maramasikensis, reginae (I believe), and amongst them I'm sure the nominate is present; so, are epiphanes and regius still needed ?

I think there is also now a archeri (?) subspecies but, maybe that's a questionable one.

Fantastic, as a drawer like that should be.

Can we see a close-up of that red-tip aberrant ?
I actually owned one myself briefly for a period of a couple years but, a moment of (weakness/monetary desperation) 24 yrs. ago had me sell it to another collector and I've never seen it since....

I've never found another one either so, it remains one of my few "serious regrets" of specimen loss in my life.

[mothman55]

Can we see a close-up of that red-tip aberrant ?

DSCF4861.JPG (636.43 KiB) Viewed 86 times