Ornithoptera tithonnus misresiana (male)
 
Ornithoptera tithonus is a butterfly from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The distribution is restricted on Irian and other islands in the neighborhood. The first description was in 1841 by de Haan. The wingspan is about 14 – 20 cm. This butterfly is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. Ornithoptera tithonus is black. It has green and golden areas on the wings. The females are dark-brown and have some white spots. They are significant-larger than the males.
Ornithoptera tithonus is, like all other birdwing butterflies, a strictly protected species. It is listed in Appendix II of CITES, restricting international export to those who have been granted a permit. Male: The forewings are black. At the wing tip there is a green stripe and one golden spot. In the middle of the wing there is a large, green band. The rear edge is green. The underside of Ornithoptera tithonus is black. At the outer edge and in the middle of the wing there is green area. The veins are black and they cleave the green areas. The golden spot at the wing tip is transparent like a window. The hindwings of Ornithoptera tithonus are multicoloured. The inner part of the wing and the edge are black. The other part of the wing is green. The green area contains some golden spots and three black spots. The underside is green. Some golden spots and some black spots are on the wing. The inner edge is very hairy.