Three spectacular swallowtail butterflies are mounted in a finely crafted oak shadow box with two panes of glass (front and back), offering a full view of these marvelous creatures. The brightly colored Papilio blumei and Papilio ulysses are from Indonesia; Papilio maacki, with its darker, subtler hues, is from China.

 

These butterflies are farmed rather than collected from the wild. Sustainable butterfly farming by rain-forest dwellers has brought some species back from near extinction, and the money earned from selling the beautiful specimens encourages habitat preservation. Today, governments in tropical countries are promoting butterfly farming as a way to save their rain forests.

 

Treat these specimens as you would any fine art object. Avoid exposure to extremes of temperature or to direct sunlight. With proper care you will enjoy these wonders of the natural world for many decades to come.