Thanks also to @nat-zag10.bsky.social for spearheading our Swallowtail of the Month feature. With July around the corner, what will the next species be?

As June comes to a close, we reflect on swallowtails (it was World Swallowtail Day this month, thanks to @sbbtrust.bsky.social!) & the work still ahead on the IUCN Red List Global Swallowtail reassessment.

Thanks for posting, @protectspecies.bsky.social!

www.indianapoliszoo.com/gcss/blog/bi...

We are also aware that in our rush to get this post out, we called this the common swallowtail when we wanted to type 'birdwing'. Multitasking is not our strength! 😂

🎙️ Listen to #swallowtail experts @sbbtrust.bsky.social & @iucnbutterflysg.bsky.social in episode 21 of the ZSL Wild Science podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/68fzMl…#TheRuffordFoundationon

@sbbtrust.bsky.social @protectspecies.bsky.social @zslscience.bsky.social

If you want to learn more about swallowtails & the Global Swallowtail Assessment, check out the @zslscience.bsky.social WildScience podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/68fz...

The Common Birdwing’s Green Status assessment suggests that it is Largely Depleted, but a recovery score of 50% puts the species into the Medium Recovery Potential category because much suitable habitat remains throughout the indigenous range.

www.iucnredlist.org/species/9118...

A species’ Green Status assessment identifies the impact that conservation actions have had on a species, as well as the future recovery potential of a species.

You can find out more here: www.iucnredlist.org/about/green-...

Birdwing butterflies are the giants of the butterfly world! The Common birdwing, like other birdwing butterfly species, was historically popular with collectors & has experienced declines in its habitat contributing to population declines.

Photo credit @Bhaiya Khanal

The Common Birdwing is the first & so far only swallowtail species to have both an IUCN Red List & IUCN Green Status assessment. It is classified as Least Concern on the Red List as it has a large range across South to Southeast Asia, and into Papua New Guinea.

www.iucnredlist.org/species/9118...

Swallowtail of the Month #1: Common Swallowtail (Troides helena)

Photo credit @Chooi-Khim Phon

Last but by no means least, a huge shoutout to our @protectspecies.bsky.social intern Natalie Zagorski who has helped with preparing our Swallowtail of the Month feature!

Thank you so much! 🦋

The main purpose is to celebrate these beautiful butterflies & update you all on our Global Swallowtail Assessment. So far, we have assessed >200 species under the current IUCN Red List Categories & Criteria, including some species previously assessed in 1985 & 1996.

Let the final countdown begin!

Happy #WorldSwallowtailDay!

We are excited to launch our "Swallowtail of the Month" feature in celebration of today, but acknowledging that for many of us, World Swallowtail Day is EVERY day!

If you have a favourite swallowtail, let us know. We would like to feature your favourites too!

Wishing our friends at @sbbtrust.bsky.social a wonderful day with many swallowtails!

#WorldSwallowtailDay

Happy #WorldSwallowtailDay! Watch this space for the launch of our new #SwallowtailoftheMonth feature later today, and learn all about our Global Swallowtail Assessment!

Great yet alarming work by @pro-pink.bsky.social & collaborators! Time to increase our efforts to assess, plan and ACT for (especially mountain, but also all) butterflies!

🚨"We project that up to 64% of the temperature niche space of butterflies in tropical realms will erode by 2070" thus turning mountains - known centers of butterfly diversity - from refugia to traps for butterfly diversity.

Another sobering outlook for butterflies! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

From @nytimes.com, “Butterfly populations are falling in the United States, a new study has found. Look up what’s happening in your area.” Don't forget to follow @iucnbutterflysg.bsky.social, which recently joined Bluesky. 🌍🧪🦋

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

This paper is a wake up call to action for butterflies!

www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...

Congratulations on this important paper to all the authors - the group also included members of IUCN SSC Butterfly & Moth Specialist Group! Long-term monitoring is vital to our understanding of nature & how to effectively safeguard it!

Sobering news this week: 20 years of butterfly population data shows severe declines across the USA! See link to paper below + @xercessociety.bsky.social press release!

We've fluttered onto @bsky.app! Follow us to hear the latest IUCN SSC Butterfly & Moth Specialist Group news and other Lepidoptera information!