Rajah Brooke's Birdwing --- still a heartthrob !

[trehopr1]

I want you for a moment to think back on that 1st time you ever opened a butterfly envelope with something you knew was really "special " inside. Something that just made you giddy with excitement and WONDER ! For me, that moment came in 1973 as a young teenager. I had saved up my allowance and ordered several butterflies from an outfit in New York. But, the real prize of the lot that I was anticipating was my male $2.00 Rajah Brooke's Birdwing.
Upon receiving my parcel, I very carefully opened each envelope examining the contents --- than on to the next. Until finally, at the very bottom of this flat box sat before me a "large" seemingly enormous envelope with just the shadow of some giant fabulous butterfly inside. No kidding, my heart raced, my eyes strained for details, and my hands trembled. I took a moment to catch my breath. Then the un-wrapping. GLORIOUS. SIMPLY GLORIOUS.
I then carefully manipulated it into my relaxer and than waited --- a day,day and a half, who knows. But, once I felt it was reasonably flexible I proceeded with my task at hand. With all the wisdom, skill, and confidence of a surgeon. WOW, it was even better OPENED UP !! I could scarcely contain myself... The last time I felt that lightheaded was upon the capture of my 1st glorious (light phase) Tiger Swallowtail female !
With my work finished I just BEAMED with joy and accomplishment. What a prize it was to me. Maybe I didn't actually catch it but, gosh was it beautiful to me. Just striking.
I know to many T. Brookiana may just be some "common fodder" thing that doesn't rate a mention. Yeah' they're common as dirt. We've all seen pictures of the males congregating on riverbanks. They are used for butterfly wing art and touristy frames. But really, take some time (sometime) to give even common things credence for being. Don't just keep on chasing after the NEXT best thing. And don't let yourself become JADED by the things you may view as better. Appreciate the simple things and you will still come away a CONTENTED hobbyist. That $2 butterfly still leaves me in awe....

[mygos]

Thank you for sharing your enthousiasm about the Rajah Brooke's Birdwing, and I must admit it was one of my favorite when I started with butterflies

A+, Michel

[Paul K]

That was one of my first butterflies my dad bought for me back in Poland from only one zoological store in my city of Wroclaw which sell dry insects in mid 80's ( no internet then ! ) when I was still a boy . Beautiful butterfly together with T. trojana .

Paul

[wollastoni]

Great article trehopr1 !
I agree that we must take time to admire even common beauties and Trogonoptera brookiana is of course a splendid insect !

I think all humans should admire and "worship" the beauties of nature.

I am personnally still amazed by fresh Inachis io when I encounter them. I will try to transmit this to my son.

[deliasfanatic]

I had the same experience....late 1960s, when I would have been 8 or 9 years old, and T. brookiana from The Butterfly Company (or, "Butterfly Art Jewelry" as they were previously known). I remember my awe and delight over that first specimen, as well as those of O. priamus, P. antimachus, and other treasures of their catalogue.

[Deleted]

Around 1978 there was a company operating out of San Jose, Costa Rica, from memory they were called Transworld butterfly company, I remember as a 12 year old ordering a male antimachus and male zalmoxis amongst other things and the same feeling came over me, I was in awe of these wonders of nature, living in England these were true giants, I still have them, fast forward 30 years when I ordered a package containing 4 papilio ascolius, a female papilio mayo, a machaon/maackii hybrid and a female teinopalpus aureus, the feeling of exitement was still these, but tempered by the feeling of please get these right when spreading as mistakes could be very costly. Like Olivier I too still love to see freshly emerged inachis io on the wing, this glorious butterfly was responsible for a lifetimes pleasure in this hobby.