The spectacular blue coloring and delicate shape of this Indonesian swallowtail butterfly—Papilio ulysses—are breathtaking. The specimen is mounted in a finely crafted oak shadow box with two panes of glass (front and back), offering a full view of this beautiful creature.

 

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