Which butterfly, named after Queen Alexandra, is native to Papua New Guinea?

Queen Alexandra’s birdwing is a butterfly named after Queen Alexandra and native to Papua New Guinea.

Its scientific name is Ornithoptera alexandrae. The species lives in the forests of Oro Province in the country’s northeast, where its distribution is highly restricted. It was named in honor of Alexandra of Denmark, who became Queen of the United Kingdom in 1901 as the wife of King Edward VII.

The species shows strong sexual dimorphism. Females are larger and mostly brown with pale markings, while males are smaller and vividly colored with blue and green areas. This difference between male and female appearance is typical of many birdwing butterflies.

Queen Alexandra’s birdwing is one of the world’s largest butterflies, but it should not be confused with the atlas moth, which is a moth rather than a butterfly. Habitat loss and its limited range have contributed to conservation concern. International trade in the species is restricted under CITES, and it is classified as endangered by the IUCN.