Graphium weiskei Coloring Pages

A phantom butterfly! A swallowtail relative living in the high mountains of New Guinea

Graphium weiskei is a very beautiful butterfly classified in the blue triangle genus (scientific name: Graphium weiskei), which is a group of swallowtail butterflies. Its English name is often called "Graphium weiskei", just like its scientific name. This butterfly was named after Emil Weiske, the collector who found it. Just like the name Miiro (three colors) means in Japanese, its wings have a mysterious beauty. They are mixed with black, yellow, white, and especially eye-catching bright blue and purple patterns that change color depending on how the light hits them. These colors are the biggest feature of Graphium weiskei.

Size and Looks

Graphium weiskei is medium-sized for a relative of swallowtail butterflies.

・Its wingspan (length with open wings) is about 50 millimeters (5 centimeters) long. ・The length of its front wing is about 35 millimeters.

The background color of its wings is black. It is marked by band-like patterns that glow in blue-green and purple. It flies very fast, so it is a butterfly that is quite hard to catch.

Where Does It Live?

Graphium weiskei lives in very limited places.

・It mainly lives only in the highlands of New Guinea Island (an island divided into Indonesia and Papua New Guinea). ・To be specific, people think it lives in places like rainforests at altitudes of about 1,400 meters to 2,400 meters high.

Like this, it is a rare butterfly that lives in the high mountains of Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian part of New Guinea Island, rather than prefectures or places in Japan.

What Does It Eat?

・Adult butterflies mainly drink flower nectar. When they drink nectar, pollen sticks to their fluffy hairs. People think this helps pollinate plants. Also, they are well known for gathering in wetlands and near water to drink water. ・Caterpillars grow up eating mainly the leaves of plants in the Dutchman's pipe genus. Eggs are laid on the back of these plant leaves.

How to Choose Colors: Show Off the Changing Colors!

The best part about Graphium weiskei is how its colors change when the light hits it, like a shiny jewel. When you color this coloring page, try layering your colors to show that light!

・For the main background of the wings, try using black or deep dark brown. ・For the special patterns, do not use just one color! Try mixing or layering blue, purple, and blue-green little by little.

Use bright blue or light purple in the places you want to look super shiny. It might make your picture glow in a magical way!

How to Color the Patterns: Make It Look 3D with Blending!

The patterns on Graphium weiskei look like the colors softly change from one to another.

・Use bright colors (like light blue) in the center of the pattern. As you get closer to the edges, use darker colors (like dark blue or purple). This makes the colors look like they are shifting and gives your picture a cool 3D look! ・With colored pencils, color gently with a light color first. Then, press a little harder as you layer a dark color on top to make a pretty blend.

Bring Your Picture to Life!

・Color the eyes firmly in black, then add a tiny white dot next to them. This makes the eyes look shiny and bright, giving Graphium weiskei lots of life! ・Draw leaves from the rainforests of New Guinea or a bright blue sky in the background behind Graphium weiskei. It will make your drawing look even more exciting!