page_title: Ornithoptera goliath
section_title: Biology
hierarchical_section_title: Ornithoptera goliath / Biology
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch&#x3a;&#32; Ornithoptera goliath samson ♀ - △Zwei Ansichten des gleichen Exemplars Fundort: Arfak Bergen, in Papua Barat, Neuguinea, Indonesien.English&#x3a;&#32; Ornithoptera goliath samson ♀ - Two views of same specimen Arfak Mountains, Province of West Papua, New Guinea, Indonesia.Français&#x202f;&#x3a;&#32; Ornithoptera goliath samson ♀ - Deux vues du même spécimen Mont Arfak, Province de Papouasie occidentale, Nouvelle-Guinée, Indonésie. Muséum de Toulouse &#160;&#160;Native nameMuséum de ToulouseLocationToulouse , FranceCoordinates43°&#160;35′&#160;38″&#160;N, 1°&#160;26′&#160;57″&#160;E &#160;Established1796&#58; &#32;established&#160;; 1865&#58; &#32;opened to publicWeb pagewww.museum.toulouse.frAuthority control : Q422 VIAF:&#8201;131004808 ISNI:&#8201;0000 0001 2158 3469 SUDOC:&#8201;028667107 BNF:&#8201;120455376 Museofile:&#8201;M7013 institution QS:P195,Q422
context_page_description: Ornithoptera goliath, the Goliath birdwing, is a birdwing butterfly found in New Guinea. It is the second largest butterfly in the world, after the Queen Alexandra's birdwing.
context_section_description: The larvae are monophagous on a species of Aristolochia which can be 20 or more metres high and so reaching into the canopy. The eggs, up to 20, are laid singly on small plants or severally on larger plants. The young larvae feed on new leaves, as they grow they feed on older leaves and finally on the bark of the stems which may be severed. The vine may be eaten down to the root. Pupation is on the underside of a leaf of a nearby shrub close to the host plant remains.
  Adult butterflies fly in the host plant’s immediate habitat feeding on forest tree flowers especially those of the introduced Spathodea campanulata during the morning. The males have cryptic underside colouring and cannot easily be seen when resting in the warmer hours of the day. Females rest with the wings open. Flight is leisurely, but controlled and powerful. Males pursue their females for long distances, rising high over the forest canopy then folding their wings and diving down to tree level to mate, even though they risk hindwing damage by the sharp tarsal claws of females. Males suffer similar damage when attacked by males of Ornithoptera priamus.
caption: Ornithoptera goliath samson, female, both sides
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