July 9 - Swallowtail

Swallowtail - (Papilionidae) There are over 500 species of this large colorful butterfly, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family Papilionidae are found on all continents except for Antarctica. The family includes the largest butterflies in the world, which are the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing.

Queen Alexandra's Birdwing - The largest butterfly in the world! It is restricted to the forests of Oro Province in eastern Papua New Guinea. Female Queen Alexandra's Birdwings are larger than males with broader wings. The female can reach a wingspan of 14 inches (31 cm), a body length of 3.2 inches (8 cm). The female has brown wings with white markings and a cream-colored body with a small section of red fur on its thorax. Males are smaller than females with brown wings that have iridescent blue and green markings and a bright yellow abdomen.