The birdwing butterflies of Australasia are some of the largest and most beautiful butterflies. The spectacular Queen Alexandra birdwing butterfly has a very localized distribution in the lowland forests of northern Papua New Guinea. It is now very rare throughout its range . They are an important part of ecosystems on every continent except Antarctica. Butterfly eggs, caterpillars, and adults are important food for a wide variety of animals, including other insects, frogs, mammals, and birds.
Some butterflies are essential to plant survival as pollinators.
Flitting from flower to flower to feed, butterflies carry pollen from one plant to another. Most insects have extremely short lifespans. Butterfly caterpillars are highly efficient at feeding and growing. As a prized food for many animals, some caterpillars have evolved elaborate means for survival, including camouflage coloration, mimicry, and sharp spines. Some tropical caterpillars feed on poisonous plants, absorbing the toxins to repel predators.