©Tom Tarrant: Female
©Geoffrey
Colours
Distinguishing features
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Wingspan
- Up to 8 cm - applies to Males
- Up to 7 cm - applies to Females
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
It is found found in northern Australia, New Guinea, Maluku, and Timor.
It occurs predominantly in drier forest throughout its range; in Australia, it is often encountered in dry Eucalyptus forest where its hosts grow as small scrambling vines in open areas. It is most common in forests bordering the Great Dividing Range. (Wikipedia)
Behaviour
Males tend to patrol breeding areas one to three meters above the ground in search of females, rarely landing. Areas where the larval food plant grows are defended aggressively by males, more often successfully by the larger males. Females are seized and forcibly mated in mid-air, but smaller males may carry the female to the ground. Females already bearing a sphragis are sometimes captured, but released soon after.
Females tend to fly closer to the ground in search of suitable larval food plants, and if already mated, will signal their unavailability in flight by raising the abdomen and lowering the wings to display the sphragis. (Wikipedia)
Diet
The larvae feed on Aristolochia species. (Wikipedia)
