Most interesting Papilionidae to collect - please help

    hi, I'd like to pick papilionidae genus or two with enough subspecies to have a nice collection. I might save for an exotic trip, but will be also buying ebay and another online auctions mainly. I wonder, which genus You guys collect, I'd like some nice to pick, so will be happy if You suggest few, criteria is that I dont want to pay 100 euro for every single specie, so lets say some middle priced. As for which I like I enjoy most and would like either South America, south east asia or eventually Africa. Maybe pinpoint few outstanding genus of each continent. Much appreciate Your help:smiling_face:

    • We specialise in rare and common butterflies from the Neotropical (Central/South America, Caribbean Islands) and Holarctic regions (North America, Europe, Asia).
    AD

    That's really subjective, a person could pick a geographic region, or species, I have a contact that likes black colored

    Papilios,

    I just started buying dead stock, and started with Ornithoptera, maybe not the most economic, but I like them,

    The possibilities are endless, moving from Papilionidae, dead leaf butterflies are interesting, Morpho, etc.

    You must know what you like most. It will be your collection. Anyway I am collecting worldwide Papilionidae for more than 30 years, so as for Papilionidae I can tell you. It is large family with close to 600 species. It is family which includes genuses which are very variable in appearance /shape, colour/ - Papilio, Parnassius, Graphium, etc. It is family where is most protected species by both CITES and EU regulation laws from all families. It is family of mainly big butterflies, so you will need space. As for money, 100e mentioned by you reach maybe 10% of Papilionidae species, rest is cheaper, many are in 10e region. Thats valid for males, females are far more prized / except butterflies are bred /. Significant number of species is sexually dimorphic.

    As for other groups I always liked genus Colias. Full box of these small gems is fantastic sight. Southamerican Nymphalidae - espcially genuses Agrias , Prepona, Aenea are also beautiful, but rather expensive - especially Agrias. I never found passion for Morphos - blue, blue and one more time blue .. and here .. ohh .. blue. One box is beuatiful, but 10 boxes ? Not for me. Of course females are different, but ... price.

    And also like african Charaxes. Mostly cheap, variable, medium size nice butterflies.

    Not easy task to choose only something. Most collectors usually buying from all families what they like.

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