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Post by Christina33 on Jan 11, 2012 19:42:43 GMT -8
Hi guys, I'm really new to the butterfly world and i'm completly challenged when it comes to identifying any of the butterflies I have come to own. I usually run around from site to site looking at pics but i'm really struggling to find this one. I think it's a birdwing but I haven't been able to find a pics that looks exactly like it. I have a few others I could use some help identifying as well. Thanks so much for any help. Attachments:
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Post by thanos on Jan 11, 2012 21:35:21 GMT -8
Ornithoptera alexandrae male....How did you manage to own this thing..?
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Post by Christina33 on Jan 11, 2012 22:38:52 GMT -8
My grandma passed a couple of years ago and this was one in her collection that was recently handed down to me. I have had no luck finding this guy on any of the sites that you can buy items framed. I was trying to figure out how much these are worth but if I can't find them in stores it makes it difficult. Having the name will def help. I will be keeping most of the ones handed down to me but i'm intrested in getting a value for insurance purposes. I love that you guys can come up with all the scientifc names so quickly. It's great. Thanks so much .
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Post by thanos on Jan 12, 2012 0:08:02 GMT -8
You will not find this species offered by any site of framed butterflies,cause it is strictly protected (Cites I category) and considered as endangered today where it occurs(Papua New Guinea) due to loss of habitat. If is of very high value..As it is old and you have it from your grandmother and you keep it in your personal collection,I think it is Ok and you don't need any permit.
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Post by lepidofrance on Jan 12, 2012 2:01:49 GMT -8
Ornithoptera alexandrae Rothschild, 1907 is found in only 4 or 5 locations in Papua New Guinea. In the main locality (Popondetta), as far I know, the forest biotop has been destroyed some years ago to grow palm oil trees !
According Matsuka (Natural History of Birdwing Butterflies), O. alexandrae is to be seen in the Voivoro village.
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Post by africaone on Jan 12, 2012 2:08:04 GMT -8
may be i am wrong but I think that (at least here in belgium) old specimen must have been legally declared to be legal (this is to avoid someone to say that his specimen is old even it is not   ;D!). |
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Post by wollastoni on Jan 12, 2012 8:45:26 GMT -8
Christina, it is a worthless bug. I offer 10 USD for you if you wanna get rid off it... ;-)
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Post by nomihoudai on Jan 12, 2012 8:50:15 GMT -8
I already wanted to pull that joke olivier  Christina, you get my grandmother and I get the butterfly in exchange, she is all healthy and should make it another 20 years. |
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Post by Christina33 on Jan 12, 2012 10:19:11 GMT -8
Wow I had no idea! This is def something I will be keeping. But the offer for the granny is really hard to resist. This is a beautiful butterfly and I am suprised at what great shape it's in. I had no idea there were even laws about butterflies but I guess I can see why there are. Thanks for the ID help. I have been searching for weeks on tons of sites. LOL Thanks guys.
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Post by anthony on Jan 12, 2012 10:50:20 GMT -8
You have a true rarity, congratulations
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Post by lepidofrance on Jan 12, 2012 15:04:21 GMT -8
I quote : "I have been searching for weeks on tons of sites." Here is one of the best internet sites about Ornithoptera : www.nagypal.net/and here are the pages about O. alexandrae : www.nagypal.net/images/zzalexan.htmwww.nagypal.net/ttalexan.htmHave a good visit !  Unfortunately, I have no more grand-mother to exchange with your butterfly ! What I could propose would be to place in the balance 2 or 3 Ornithoptera priamus which are butterflies from the same area with the same nice green colour .... 3 butterflies vs only one ! |
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Post by timoinsects on Jan 13, 2012 0:42:12 GMT -8
no one ever thought to legally have some O.alexandare eggs/larvas and breed them for the specimens?this doesn't influence the natural living ones.
also it's unlike to breed a pandas or elephants costing many years. the insects are short life cycle.
so this could help that the specimens could be available in market?
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Post by wollastoni on Jan 13, 2012 1:18:46 GMT -8
Yes timo, O. alexandra farming would be both good thing for the species and for collectors. But it is a CITES 1 and you cannot export/buy even eggs and larvas.
It is stupid... but that's the way it is.
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Post by lepidofrance on Jan 13, 2012 2:50:49 GMT -8
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Post by lepidofrance on Jan 13, 2012 5:13:44 GMT -8
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;D!).
