On August 28, a larva of the world's most beautiful butterfly—golden birdwing—was discovered in the campus of South China Agricultural University (SCAU). This is its reappearance in downtown Guangzhou after 20 years.
A male golden birdwing. (Photo: Wang Min)
Golden birdwings are named for their birdlike flight, their exceptional size and their angular wings sometimes with featherlike patterns. A fully grown adult usually has wings of 10-15 cm. It can be recognized by these distinctive black and yellow wings. Its fore wings are black, with veins bordered by whitish colour, while the hind wings are bright yellow， which will make them dazzle under the sunlight.
Due to their limited numbers, golden birdwings are currently listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II, and China's second-class national protected animals.
The larva of golden birdwing. (Photo: Guangzhou Daily)
This butterfly larva was found by Wang Min, a professor and butterfly expert of the SCAU, while regularly watering the aristolochia plants.
According to Wang, golden birdwing larvae are fussy eaters that are feed only on the leaves and young shoots of aristolochia plants. They are very sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity and solar radiation produced by disturbances in their habitat, which makes them very important for environmental quality measurement. The appearance of the rare golden birdwing also reflects Guangdong's achievements in ecological and environmental protection.
Author: Ariel, Tonny (intern)
Editor: Wing, Olivia, Monica, Jerry
