Family Papilionidae

Another well represented group of butterflies in Papua New Guinea which has around fifty species and subspecies. One of the most renowned of all Papilionids in PNG is the metallic blue Ulysses butterfly that occurs in different forms throughout the mainland and island regions of the country. Laglaize's swallowtail is one of the only butterflies in the world known to mimic a moth (in this case the distasteful day flying moth - Alcides agathysus). Many of the Papilionids are ranched, not only for conservation purposes, but also to ensure perfect specimens for market, but some are still collected. Collecting is an integral part of the insect business in PNG and is an important factor in the conservation of habitat. It is possible to breed butterflies without rainforest, but it is not possible to collect them on a sustainable basis without the forest. The insect business is one of what one day maybe a handful of eco-friendly activities which can enable the forest landowners to have a reasonable standard of living and keep their rainforest from be commercially logged at the same time.

 

Two particularly good references are "Butterflies of the Australasian Region" by B. DAbrera and "Butterflies of Papua New Guinea" by M. Parsons