The Richmond Birdwing Ornithoptera richmondia is a large, vibrant butterfly found in eastern Australia. The male has a bright yellow body and a kaleidoscope of black and metallic blue, aqua, green and yellow on its wings. Sadly, however, this beautiful butterfly is vulnerable and, despite being protected in Queensland, several of its populations have disappeared and its range has severely contracted.
This decline is largely due to the loss and fragmentation of its habitat, mainly rainforest. The clearing and burning of understorey vegetation, invasion of riparian native vegetation by weeds, and the mining of rainforest valleys for volcanic rocks are ongoing threats. Furthermore, the poisonous South American Dutchman’s Pipe Vine Aristolochia elegans has become a serious invasive weed since its introduction as a decorative garden plant. As the vine engulfs trees and other vines, chemicals in its leaves attract the Richmond Birdwing to lay eggs, but the caterpillars are poisoned when they feed on the leaves. Dutchman’s Pipe is now classified as a restricted invasive plant and must not be given away, sold or released into the environment.
In 2019 the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust provided a small grant to the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland to support the captive breeding and release of the Richmond Birdwing in eastern Australia – part of a wider project to create ‘stepping stone’ habitat corridors for the Richmond Swallowtail and ensure viable populations throughout Queensland and New South Wales.
The project involved purchasing and maintaining a rolling stock of the caterpillar foodplant vines Pararistolochia praevenosa for use in the captive breeding and release programme. The species’ host vine is used to raise eggs and caterpillars to the pupal stage. The caterpillars feed for 25-50 days and consume large amounts of leaf material. Once they have pupated, they are placed out in their natural habitat, where the adults emerge.
The project has been a success, with partners working on the project helping to establish healthy populations of both the Richmond Swallowtail and its vine foodplant. However, work is still ongoing to protect this important butterfly and to safeguard it against future threats.
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