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£32.99 GBP
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Discover the electric beauty of Papilio ulysses - the stunning blue swallowtail butterfly from Indonesia and Australia. This pair of two male A1 grade unmounted specimens showcases the brilliant iridescent blue wings and elegant tail streamers that make this species one of the most sought-after butterflies for collectors and framers worldwide.
Papilio ulysses, commonly known as the blue swallowtail butterfly or Ulysses butterfly, displays one of nature's most vibrant blue colours. The upperwings shimmer with electric blue that flashes brilliantly in sunlight, while the elegant tail streamers add a graceful, flowing quality to their flight. This combination of intense colour and elegant form makes them endlessly captivating.
Like morpho butterflies, Papilio ulysses achieves its brilliant blue through structural colouration rather than pigment. Microscopic scales on the wings refract light to create the iridescent blue shimmer that shifts and changes with viewing angle. This optical phenomenon has inspired biomimicry research and represents one of nature's most sophisticated colour-production mechanisms.
These blue swallowtail specimens are ideal for multiple applications. Create stunning framed displays and shadow boxes showcasing their elegant form, embed in resin for jewellery with brilliant blue inclusions, use in wedding décor and event styling, incorporate into mixed-media art celebrating tropical beauty, build educational collections demonstrating butterfly diversity, or simply admire their natural beauty in lepidoptera cabinets.
Your pair includes 2 male blue swallowtail butterflies (Papilio ulysses) from Indonesia, each carefully papered to protect their delicate wings during shipping. Specimens arrive unmounted and ready for setting, framing, or your creative projects. Expect brilliant electric blue upperwings, distinctive tail streamers, and the elegant proportions that make this species so visually striking.
A1 grade specimens are in pristine condition with vibrant colours, intact wings including tail streamers, and minimal imperfections. These are collectors-quality butterflies suitable for professional displays, high-end framing, or retail sale. The exceptional colour vibrancy and condition make them ideal for projects where visual perfection is paramount.
Papilio ulysses is found in tropical forests across Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and northern Australia. The brilliant blue serves to attract mates - males patrol forest edges and clearings, their flashing blue wings visible from great distances. The tail streamers may confuse predators by mimicking antennae, directing attacks away from the butterfly's vital body parts.
In Australia, the Ulysses butterfly is an iconic symbol of tropical Queensland and appears on tourism materials, conservation campaigns, and cultural imagery. The butterfly's beauty has made it an ambassador for rainforest conservation, inspiring protection efforts for the tropical forests it inhabits.
All our Papilio ulysses specimens are ethically sourced from sustainable collecting programmes in Indonesia. We work with local collectors who follow responsible practices, ensuring wild populations remain healthy and forest habitats are protected.
Your specimens arrive carefully papered to prevent damage during transit. When you're ready to work with them, gently relax the specimens in a humidity chamber before setting or mounting. Properly preserved and displayed, these butterflies will retain their stunning blue colour for generations - the structural colouration doesn't fade like pigment-based colours.
Blue swallowtail butterflies bring tropical elegance and vibrant colour to any natural history collection. Their combination of brilliant blue, graceful form, and distinctive tail streamers makes them standout specimens that complement morpho butterflies, birdwings, and other premium lepidoptera in curated displays.
Own electric blue elegance. Order your pair of blue swallowtail butterflies today and experience the brilliant beauty of Papilio ulysses - one of nature's most stunning examples of iridescent blue and graceful butterfly design.
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