The African Giant Swallowtail (Papilio antimachus), with a wingspan between 18 and 23 centimeters, is the largest butterfly in Africa and among the largest butterflies in the world. It is an exceedingly beautiful butterfly with a relatively wide range in Africa’s west and central primary rain forests.
Saving swallowtail and birdwing butterflies
Butterflies declining at an alarming rate across United States
A recently conducted assessment of butterfly trends across the contiguous United States from 2000 to 2020 found declines at every scale: reductions in total numbers of butterflies, falling species richness, and large decreases in many individual species.
Schaus’ Swallowtail benefits from hurricanes
A recent paper has highlighted that the population size of the federally endangered Schaus’ Swallowtail (Heraclides ponceana) was positively influenced by something unexpected — hurricanes.
Meet the Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing
The Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) is the largest butterfly in the world, with the female’s wingspan up to 30cm. Found in Papua New Guinea, this vibrant butterfly is sadly endangered as a result of habitat loss caused by large-scale logging, expanding smallholder agriculture, and oil palm planting.
Supporters & Collaborators
Our Mission
The mission of the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust is to conserve and protect members of the Papilionidae, a worldwide family of more than 580 species that include the largest, most spectacular and most endangered butterflies on the planet.
Aims
SBBT aims to build the capacity of local people and organisations to achieve long-lasting conservation and sustainable change.
Methods
We achieve this in four ways: we raise financial resources; convene research networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support to conservation projects.
Wider Reach
Our work is generally planned and executed in the context of wider butterfly faunas, their foodplants, and the ecosystems that they inhabit.
Giving
Financial contributions are welcome and will be treasured. We also need your ideas, new information, suggestions and encouragement!
What We Do
We do four things to help swallowtails and birdwings: we raise financial resources; convene networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support.
Papilio! Newsletter
