Ornithoptera victoriae

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daveuk
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Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by 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.
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Chuck
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by 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.

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daveuk
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by daveuk »

Chuck wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 6:05 pm 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.
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by 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

Image

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 !
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Panacanthus
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by Panacanthus »

Trehopr1 wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 4:54 am 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.
“Seems to me the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” -David Attenborough
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by daveuk »

Trehopr1 wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 4:54 am 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.
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daveuk
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by daveuk »

Panacanthus wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 7:42 am 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.
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by mothman55 »

My victoriae drawer.
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Last edited by adamcotton on Sun Mar 19, 2023 10:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: spelling 'victoriae'
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by daveuk »

mothman55 wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:48 pm My Victoria drawer.
Absolutely beautiful specimens. Thanks for sharing
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by livingplanet3 »

mothman55 wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:48 pm My Victoria drawer....
Superb!
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adamcotton
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by adamcotton »

mothman55 wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:48 pm My victoriae drawer.
Superb!

Adam.
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joachim
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by joachim »

really really wonderful
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Trehopr1
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by 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.
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Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Post by mothman55 »

Trehopr1 wrote: Sun Mar 19, 2023 3:45 pm Can we see a close-up of that red-tip aberrant ?
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