Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Family: Papilionidae
- Genus: Troides
- Species: Troides andromache (Staudinger, 1892)
Common names
Borneo birdwing, Kinabalu birdwing
Description
Troides andromache is a large butterfly with a wingspan of 150–180 mm in females. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males have black upperside forewings with white markings on the underside, and yellow hindwings bearing black veins and a marginal series of black triangles. Females possess white forewings with black veins outlined in grey, and yellow hindwings with a broad black border and confluent submarginal black spots. The body is predominantly black with yellow markings on the ventral abdomen.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the island of Borneo, occurring in the mountainous rain‑forest canopy of northern Sabah and Sarawak, as well as western Borneo. It is typically found at elevations between 1,000 m and 2,900 m.
Subspecies
- T. a. andromache – northern Borneo (Sabah)
- T. a. marapokensis Fruhstorfer, 1899 – northern Borneo (northern Sarawak)
- T. a. nishikawai Kobayashi, 1992 – western Borneo
Biology
Larval host plants are species of the genus Aristolochia, specifically A. acuminata and A. foveolata. Adults are known to inhabit the forest canopy, where they feed on nectar from flowering plants.
Conservation status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies Troides andromache as Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1). The species is listed on Appendix II of CITES, regulating international trade. Habitat loss and limited distribution contribute to its conservation concerns. In 2023, it was designated the official state butterfly of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Etymology
The specific epithet “andromache” derives from Andromache, a figure in Greek mythology who was the wife of Hector.
Related species
- Troides amphrysus
- Troides cuneifera
- Troides miranda
References: IUCN Red List (2020); CITES Appendices; primary taxonomic literature cited in the Wikipedia article on Troides andromache.