Author: Kamila Redererova

Events 

Education and awareness-raising activities in the White Carpathians

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In 2024, the Education and Information Centre White Carpathians continued the Apollo Project and its related education and awareness activities.

This year we created 6 new gardens for Apollo in our White Carpathians functional area, usually in the form of a raised bed.  The beds were seeded with nectarous plants favoured by the adult Apollo, i.e. various pink and purple flowering plants. The sown mixture has also been enriched with other flowers that attract other species of butterflies or insects. The bed also includes a rockery with host plants for caterpillars. In the White Carpathians, these are mainly the large stonecrop, which occurs naturally here. In addition, the white stonecrop is another important host plant for the caterpillars of the Apollo’s caterpillar.

Most Gardens for Apollo are created in collaboration with schools and kindergartens, or community gardens for example, and are preceded by an educational part in which the pupils are introduced to butterflies in general and then, of course, to the Apollo.  Pupils love playing caterpillars, which then become pupae. We use our five metre long pupa, which resembles a real Apollo’s pupa, and the caterpillars (the pupils) climb into it and fall asleep. After one of nature’s miracles, the metamorphosis, has taken place in the chrysalis, the pupils become adult butterflies and fly out of the pupa.  Another popular activity is the preparation of a sweet liquid as close as possible to the nectar found in the flowers of plants, the only food for adult butterflies. This is followed by a tasting, of course. After all, the students are adult butterflies for the rest of the programme!

This is followed by the completion of the raised bed in the school garden.  The pupils enthusiastically set about tidying up the prepared raised bed and creating a rock garden with their own stones. In order to make the students feel more connected to the bed, most of the stones for the rock garden are found in nature and brought in by the students themselves, sometimes painted with different motifs, especially butterflies. Once the raised bed is ready, they sow the flower mixture and plant the stonecrops.

Awareness was also raised at other events. At the beginning of the year, the traditional seminar dedicated to our functional area was held, where around 60 participants from the Czech and Slovak Republics listened with interest to the presentation on the project. In the spring, our organisation hosted officials from the South Moravian Region. Like the students from Slovenia, they visited our breeding station and learned a lot of interesting information not only about the Apollo, but also about the importance of nature conservation in general. At another awareness-raising event in the House of Nature of the White Carpathians, the visitors also learned about the Apollo, and especially the younger ones were able to draw a picture of a Apollo, get a tattoo of a Apollo or take away a memory game with animal species that live in similar habitats to the Apollo. A lecture for senior citizens from the White Carpathian region was very well attended, presenting the Apollo, its life cycle and the habitats it inhabits.

The LIFE Apollo2020 project is proof that collaboration between experts, schools and the community can deliver concrete conservation results. Through these gardens, we are not only helping to conserve the Apollo (and other species with similar requirements), but also educating and inspiring the next generation to care for our natural world.

Project news 

A conservation milestone: Apollo successfully reintroduced in Austria’s first two habitats

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We are thrilled to announce that the LIFE Apollo2020 project has achieved a significant milestone: the successful reintroduction of the Apollo (Parnassius apollo) into two key habitats in Austria—Leisach in Tyrol and Rheindamm in Vorarlberg. Carried out between 2023 and 2024 as part of Action C3.3: Reintroduction in the Austrian Alps, these efforts are a cornerstone of the project’s mission to restore this iconic species to its natural environment. This success was driven by dedicated teamwork of Austrian partner and the invaluable expertise of the Saalfelden breeding farm, led by Otto Feldner. His extensive experience in breeding and reintroduction played a crucial role in achieving this goal. Together, careful planning and collaboration have shown how conservation efforts can reverse biodiversity loss and bring endangered species back to thriving habitats.

Leisach: A jewel of the Tyrolean Alps along the railway

The Leisach habitat, located in Tyrol, is characterised by rocky, sunlit terrain with steep slopes, frequent rockfalls, and nutrient-poor soils. These xerothermic conditions make it ideal for Parnassius apollo. However, prior to the project, the species had disappeared from the area.

Habitat restoration and critical preparatory actions were crucial to enable the successful reintroduction of the Apollo in Leisach. One major challenge for the successful reintroduction of Apollo was the glyphosate use along the railway track that crosses the habitat. However, through the dedicated lobbying efforts of the Austrian partner, the European Wilderness Society, the cessation of glyphosate use by ÖBB was successfully achieved in 2022. This precaution was essential to protect the Apollo’s food sources and ensure a safe environment for reintroduction. Another crucial step was the planting of over 500 Sedum plants, such as Sedum album and Sedum maximum, to provide a sufficient feeding base for the reintroduced caterpillars.

Preparations for Sedum planting
Carrying and planting Sedum on the steep slopes of Leisach is no easy task

Reintroduction efforts began in 2023 with the release of 40 Apollo caterpillars, marking the start of the species’ return to Leisach. In 2024, these efforts expanded with the release of 100 more caterpillars and additional Sedum planting (S. album, S. maximum, and S. sexangulare). Monitoring has shown promising results, with a thriving population of caterpillars and imagos confirming the habitat’s suitability for the Apollo. Despite human and natural challenges, the careful planning and implementation of restoration measures have ensured the long-term potential of this remarkable site.

Apollo caterpillars ready to be launched 🙂
Releasing caterpillars on the feeding plants

Rheindamm: A restored haven along the river Rhine

The Rheindamm habitat in Vorarlberg is situated along a man-made flood control dam, stretching alongside the Rhine River. The dam, constructed to protect surrounding communities from flooding, is characterised by rocky, south-facing slopes and nutrient-poor soils, creating ideal conditions for Parnassius apollo. However, being part of the Natura 2000 conservation area, all restoration actions required close collaboration and trust-building with local authorities. These efforts ensured that conservation measures were implemented with full agreement and alignment with existing priorities.

As in Leisach, the planting of Sedum species (S. album, S. sexangulare, S. sempervivum) was essential to secure a sufficient food supply for Apollo caterpillars. Over 700 Sedum plants were planted between 2022 and 2024, transforming the habitat into a thriving ecosystem for Apollo.

The reintroduction began in 2023 with the release of 300 eggs and 80 caterpillars, followed in 2024 by the addition of 250 eggs and 150 caterpillars. Reintroducing Apollo eggs is a delicate task that requires manual precision and patience. The eggs, which are really tiny, must be carefully placed either on the finger or with a fine brush to avoid any damage or unwanted loss. It is also important to position the eggs close to feeding plants, such as Sedum, Sempervivum, and Rhodiola species, to ensure that newly hatched larvae can immediately access a suitable food source.

Released caterpillars in Rheindamm
Tiny Apollo eggs are about to be laid on Sedum album plants

The success at Rheindamm highlights the importance of long-term planning and collaboration with local stakeholders, ensuring the habitat remains a safe haven for Parnassius apollo.

Securing the Apollo’s future

The establishment of thriving Apollo populations in Leisach and Rheindamm represents a significant milestone, but it is only the beginning. The ultimate goal of the LIFE Apollo2020 project in Austria is to establish self sustaining Apollo populations at all project sites, ensuring the species’ long-term survival across its historical range.

In order to achieve this vision, the European Wilderness Society, in collaboration with the experienced breeder Otto Feldner, is making continuous and dedicated efforts to expand these successes to other reintroduction sites. Their work involves breeding high-quality individuals at the Saalfelden breeding farm, improving habitat conditions, and gradually reintroducing more Apollo butterflies to additional locations.

Future actions will include:

  • Ongoing monitoring of populations and habitats to ensure long-term success.
  • Continued Sedum planting and nectar planting to secure a robust food supply for Apollo caterpillars (larvae) and adult butterflies (imagines).
  • Strengthening collaborations with landowners and authorities to protect existing and new reintroduction sites.
  • Selective shrub removal to open up habitats, whether for new reintroduction efforts or for existing populations that require support to thrive.
  • Arranging insect-friendly mowing and grazing practices, in coordination with landowners and authorities, whenever possible and agreeable.

By combining expert and decades of knowledge, habitat restoration, and collaborative partnerships, the project is setting the stage for self-sustaining Apollo populations across Austria. These efforts also contribute to the wider conservation of biodiversity and the ecological resilience of these regions. The Apollo’s return to these landscapes is a powerful symbol of resilience and hope, showcasing how dedicated conservation efforts can reverse biodiversity loss and restore iconic species to their rightful habitats.

#followapollo Butterflies for beginners 

Gardens for Apollo: Something for Butterflies, Caterpillars, and People

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One of the key activities of the Apollo 2020 project, “Conservation of Parnassius apollo in Poland, Czechia, and Austria,” is creating habitats for butterflies and offering educational activities. This led to the idea of establishing Gardens for Apollo. These gardens are special spaces where we plant nectar-rich flowers for butterflies and host plants for Apollo caterpillars.

Each garden is built with the direct involvement of local site hosts, guided by our experts. Before any planting begins, we organize educational talks and workshops for both adults and children. Some gardens, especially smaller ones, focus more on education. For instance, school gardens highlight how changing garden management can attract pollinators. These small spaces also create conditions that support the growth of Parnassius apollo populations as individuals reintroduced nearby spread into these gardens.

Meanwhile, some larger Gardens for Apollo are designed as habitats where future butterfly reintroductions are planned. All of these gardens are located within the project’s activity area, known as the Land of the Apollo. This region is becoming known for not only its natural connection to the species but also its cultural significance, thanks to the project’s efforts.

This year, we’ve created four new Gardens for Apollo and revisited one established in 2023. Our garden season began in April with a visit to the Arts and Crafts School Complex in Jelenia Góra. Despite late sowing in June, we were pleased to find that the plants had germinated and spread. Together with the students, we sowed more seeds and installed a sign with information about the garden and the project. We hope the meadow continues to grow and becomes a feeding ground for many pollinators.

In May, we planted two Gardens for Apollo near the Ecocentre in Uniemyśl. At the Tatra Glamp camping site in Okrzeszyn, we talked about the Apollo butterfly and its habitat, and introduced our citizen science campaign, “Where is the Big White Butterfly?”. With the help of campsite guests and local residents, we prepared the ground, planted Sedum, and sowed seeds of meadow plants. We’re excited to continue working with them to expand nature education in the area.

Later in May, we participated in the annual Upper Lusatian Houses Open Day, where we organized a fair of local handicrafts and products. Alongside the visitors, we planted another Garden for Apollo at a small market near the local inn.

In between these activities, we also visited Primary School No. 1 in Kamienna Góra. The students there helped us create a Sedum “roundabout,” designed to gradually transform the school lawn into a flowering meadow. Working with these energetic children was both fun and productive!

Our biggest challenge came with the Garden for Apollo at the Parada Three Cultures House in Niedamirów. The venue’s beautiful setting and supportive atmosphere made it a fantastic event. Together with the team from the Karkonosze National Park, we held a family-friendly festival that included lectures, workshops, and, of course, gardening. We planted 10 acres of butterfly-friendly plants, and in the autumn, we’ll create a habitat using limestone aggregate and more Sedum. We’ll always remember that day and the inspiring conversations we had with participants. Next year, we hope the Apollo butterfly will visit Niedamirów and enjoy the garden as much as we did!

Looking ahead, we’re already brainstorming ideas for next year’s Gardens for Apollo. If you’re active or live in the Western Sudeten region and would like to start a garden with us, we’d love to hear from you!

Monitoring 

New home for the Apollo in Krkonoše mountains

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In June, the Krkonoše Mountains briefly became home to the very rare Apollo butterfly. This butterfly is a relic from the Ice Age, and its natural habitat consists of sunlit mountain rocks with an abundance of flowering plants. It disappeared from Czech nature nearly a century ago due to the loss of its natural environment. Now, the Apollo butterfly faces an imminent threat even in our neighboring countries: in the Slovak and Polish Carpathians or the Austrian Alps. Their decline is also accelerated by climate change, as it’s simply getting too warm for them.

Conservation efforts to save the Parnassius Apollo

Our nature conservationists are trying to reverse this population decline by preserving its original habitats, but they are also working to create new, backup environments. Such a place has now been established in the Krkonoše Mountains. Since August 2022, intensive work has been done to clear the rocks, which will serve as a substitute habitat for these iconic butterflies. Soon after, the area saw the appearance of many flowering plants, and with them, butterflies such as the critically endangered small blue butterfly in Krkonoše, the swallowtail, the purple emperor, and numerous ringlets.

Testing the new habitat: Male-only butterfly release

It was time to let the site be tested by its future residents. For this purpose, a total of 100 males from a rescue breeding program were released, having already fulfilled their reproductive role, to live out their days here. Why only males, you might ask? Once each male fertilizes a female, he no longer has any purpose in breeding, whereas the females still need to lay eggs for the next generation and are essential for maintaining the population. If the release didn’t succeed, we wouldn’t be left with anything if we had released the entire population. The butterflies were numbered with a marker before release, both for monitoring purposes and to diminish their value to potential collectors.

Our method of releasing only males was met with skepticism shortly after being publicized. There were speculations that the males would search for females and leave the site, skewing our results. Today, we have processed data from repeated expert monitoring, and we can confirm that these theories did not hold true. Even in nature, male butterflies naturally hatch a few days earlier than females and must wait for them. The males behaved entirely normally on the site throughout the three weeks of regular monitoring, with no observed “flights” away from the site, and they remained quite vital for a long time.

Positive behavior and site attachment

The butterflies exhibited their typical behavior, including active patrolling, territorial battles with other males, and most importantly, spreading out across the site and evenly occupying the entire area with frequent contact among each other. This is crucial for them because, as has been observed in practice many times, this phenomenon leads to a stronger attachment of the butterflies to the site. In human terms, their logic says, “There are a lot of other butterflies here, so there must be more females too, and I like that.” Of course, in this case, we tricked the poor males a bit. However, the positive monitoring results indicate that the Apollos didn’t catch on to our ruse.

In summary, the monitoring showed absolutely great results, so we can consider the management part of the project focused on the adults to be successful (though not yet complete!). However, this is not the end of the story, as there still needs to be enough space provided for the Apollo butterflies’ host plants. This is another reason why we haven’t yet released the butterflies in full; everything must be perfect for this demanding butterfly to thrive in the Krkonoše Mountains.

Project news 

Release of 50 Apollo butterflies in Czechia!

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On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, the Czech partner JARO released 50 Parnassius apollo butterflies into the Krkonoše mountains! They set out to inspect the quality of the environment, which we have been preparing for them in cooperation with many partners for the third year as part of the LIFE Apollo2020 project.

David Číp from the International Conservation Group JARO told that the release of the Parnassius apollo into the wild was preceded by the modification of a selected and undisclosed location to suit the butterfly, which is at risk of extinction in the Czech Republic and abroad. The organizers of the project perceive this butterfly, which became extinct in the Czech Republic in 1935, as a symbol of the protection of mountain nature. In the 1980s, it was managed to return to Štramberk in northern Moravia, where a weak population still lives.

“Now, together with the KRNAP Administration, the Škoda Auto Foundation and other partners, we are trying to return him to Bohemia, where he last lived in the Krkonoše and Podkrkonoše about 100 years ago. We have been trying for the return of rare ash trees for the third year,” said David Číp. Last year, an attempt at the first test release of butterflies failed due to complications at the butterfly rescue station. “However, the breeding technology was modified, so this year the third generation hatched, which can finally go out,” said Číp.

Conservationists will observe whether the butterflies will thrive in the restored conditions of the Krkonoše nature. “The experts we work with believe that we have managed to restore the conditions for Parnassius apollo in the field to such an extent that it could be enough for the Apollos to stay in the place we are preparing for them after release,” said project coordinator Tereza Macečková from the Group JARO.

So far, conservationists have released only males, so that possible losses of difficult-to-bring individuals are as small as possible. “Females are the most valuable for further breeding. However, if the released males are kept, they start behaving naturally, looking for females that hatch only after the males in the wild, and they stay here for several days after release, the chances of their permanent settlement will be much greater,” said Číp.

According to him, next year it will make sense to release the females as well and try to move to the last final phase of the project, when the Apollos could start to reproduce in the wild. “At the moment, we are roughly half way there, although perhaps the hardest part is behind us,” said JARO Group butterfly breeder Miloš Andres. According to him, the breeding of rare species of butterflies is very demanding, even if it is “only” about rearing the eggs to the adult stage. The most demanding task, which takes several years, he identified as the preparation of the environment for the butterflies in combination with their release without the need for additional reinforcements from breeding.

Conservationists keep the butterflies secret instead of releasing them to prevent them from being caught by a collector. They wrote a number on the top of each butterfly’s wings. “It is both for the sake of records, but also for their protection. They are so worthless to potential collectors,” said Číp.

Last year, conservationists in the Krkonoše improved about a hectare of overgrown rocky terrain and already noticed the spread of rare species of flowering plants and insects, which occur sporadically in the Krkonoše due to lack of space. The project is also focused on the restoration of entire biotopes, taking care of Parnassius apollo helps to protect other sensitive species. “Hopefully the released males will give us hope that we are moving in the right direction and we will have the chance to meet this beautiful butterfly in the Krkonoše Mountains permanently,” added Radek Drahný, spokesman for the KRNAP Administration.

The practical part of the LIFE Apollo2020 international project to protect the Apollos, one of Europe’s most endangered butterflies, started in 2022 in several areas of Central Europe. The mission for his return to the Krkonoše Mountains is carried out by members of the JARO Group in cooperation with the Czech and Polish Krkonoše Mountains National Park, the Nature and Landscape Protection Agency and a number of other Czech and foreign organizations.

The mission for the return of the king of butterflies to the Krkonoše Mountains will be implemented from 2021 by members of the JARO Group in cooperation with the Administration of the Giant Mountains National Park, the Nature and Landscape Protection Agency, members of the Czech Entomological Society, employees of the Entomological Institute of the Biological Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and partner organizations from Poland, Czechia and Austria.

Project news 

We are restoring the splendour of Kruczy Kamień nature reserve, PL

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We are restoring the splendour of Kruczy Kamień nature reserve – the most important place for the Apollo butterfly in the Polish Sudetes 

Kruczy Kamień is an inanimate nature reserve. It was established in 1954 and currently has an area of 12.61 ha. It covers western and south-western slopes of Krucza Skała (681 m above sea level) located in the Krucza Valley, in the Stone Mountains. The subject of the reserve’s protection is an interesting form of trachyte intrusion (a variety of porphyry of volcanic origin) in the sedimentary rocks of the Rotliegend. The area is made up of steep slopes with heights reaching 30 metres in places. Numerous rock formations occur here, and in many places extensive fields of rock rubble are formed as a result of the crumbling of the porphyry rock.

Most of the reserve is covered with artificially planted spruce forest. The reminder is covered mainly by rocky, xerothermic, pioneer and meadow vegetation. Among the more important habitats recorded in the reserve are ecosystems of Pontic-Pannonian character, which form a mosaic with xerothermic and rocky grasslands. At the foot of the escarpment there are rare – Subcontinental Peri-Pannonian shrubby habitats Rhamno-Prunetea thickets with numerous patches of Cotoneaster integerrimus (one of the largest in the Sudetes) and herbaceous plants. The shrubs are also accompanied by Festuco-Stipion Pannonic grasslands, with Sedum species, important for the Apollo butterfly Parnassius apollo. Habitats of ephemeral character have developed on the rock rubble layer and in rock crevices. This is the thermophilic pioneer vegetation of the rock shelves of the Alysso-Sedion association classified as Sempervivetum soboliferi complex. This habitat type is rich in the succulent species Jovibarba sobolifera, Sedum acre, Sedum maximum and Sedum album (artificially introduced). The latter two species provide a food source for the caterpillars of the Apollo butterfly. These ecosystems undergo gradual succession, becoming overgrown with taller vegetation, mainly grasses and perennials and then shrubs and trees. At the foot of the reserve there are habitats rich in nectariferous plants: patches of xerothermic grassland and herbaceous vegetation, and further on, lush and dense meadow vegetation composed largely of Centaurea and Cirsium species.

Rare plant species, including those protected by law in Poland, include: the endemic morphological form of Viola porphyrea, Cotoneaster integerrimus, Festuca pallens, Lilium martagon, Digitalis grandiflora, Melampyrum sylvaticum, Antennaria dioica and Asplenium septentrionale.

A rich insect fauna, especially butterflies, was found in the reserve. However, the most important has always been the local subspecies of the Apollo butterfly Parnassius apollo silesianus, which occurs here. This butterfly became extinct at the beginning of the 20th century, and the Krucze Mountains area was one of the last places of its occurrence in Lower Silesia. The first successful attempt to reintroduce the species in the reserve was made as early as the 1990s, and the butterflies persisted in the site for more than 10 years. Reintroduction continued in the 21st century, when breeding began as part of a project by the Fundacja Ekorozwoju, the Karkonosze National Park and the Stołowe Mountains National Park, which now continues under the Apollo2020 project. The habitat itself has also been cared for. Unfortunately, years have passed since the last conservation measures in the reserve. The sunny slopes have again become overgrown with shrubs and tree undergrowth. The thermophilic habitats have been shaded and the landslides have started to lose their dynamic character.

This winter, Klub Przyrodników carried out conservation measures in the reserve that will help to preserve and, in places, restore its peculiar charm. An area of approximately 1.7 hectares was cleared of shrubs (with the exception of Cotoneaster integerrimus), as well as tree undergrowth, including some larger specimens, the seeds of which are spreading along the slopes of Krucze Kamień reinforcing the succession process. Our further aim is to maintain the effects of these activities and stop the regrowth of felled shrubs and trees by grazing goats. 

In spring, Apollo caterpillars can be seen in the reserve, which have hatched from the eggs laid by butterflies last year, and every summer, the spectacle of philutically flying Apollo butterfly plays out before our eyes on the slopes of the reserve and in the meadow at its foot. Our dream is to establish a permanent population of the species in the reserve, which will only need our help to cut the bushes.

Project news 

Outdoor season in Austria has officially started!

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The snow has started to melt in the Alps, which means that the outdoor work season for the Apollo butterfly in Austrian habitats could officially begin. With the great help of volunteers, the Austrian team (EWS) has started the crucial task of debushing in two Apollo habitats – Lofer, Salzburg, and Fieberbrunn, Tyrol.

With warm and sunny weather on our side, we focused on clearing away overgrown bushes and trees to uncover the rocky slopes beneath. These rocky slopes are vital for the survival of Apollo caterpillars, as they provide the perfect environment for the caterpillars to thrive. The exposed slopes are ideal for the growth of Sedum plants, which are the main food source for the caterpillars. Keeping these areas free of excessive bush growth is important to maintaining a suitable habitat for the caterpillars.

In addition to our debushing efforts, we planted various Sedum species (Sedum sexangulare and Sedum album) to ensure the caterpillars have plenty of food. This step is needed for helping the caterpillars grow into healthy pupae and eventually transform into imagines. To support the adult butterflies, we also sowed seeds of nectar-producing plants, ensuring that there will be nectar sources available when the butterflies emerge.

The highlight of the day was discovering numerous Apollo caterpillars within the habitat. In Lofer, Salzburg. We saw them actively crawling and feeding on the Sedum plants, which was an exciting confirmation that our conservation measures are already paying off.

During our work, we had the pleasure of meeting a group of children and their teacher. The kids were eager to learn about the Parnassius apollo butterflies, their feeding plants, and our conservation efforts. Their enthusiasm and curiosity has again assured us how important is to involve and educate also the younger generation about environmental conservation.

Looking ahead, we are excited for the rest of the spring and summer seasons. We will continue our efforts to maintain and improve the habitats, ensuring that the Apollo butterflies have a thriving environment.

Project news 

The rescue mission for Parnassius Apollo continues in Czechia

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Last year, our Czech partner ČSOP Hradec Králové managed to light up (not only) over a hectare of densely overgrown rocky terrain for Parnassius apollo, which was covered with impenetrable trees and thickets up to 15 metres high. But our efforts did not end there! Thanks to long-term support from the Škoda Auto Foundation and a partnership with the KRNAP administration, this winter we have managed to open an area that is now two to three times larger than some of the sites where Apollo still survives in Slovakia or Poland.

The work is really extreme and dangerous, and in some places you literally have to do magic on a rope. Through the Krakonoš Gardens project, we have been able to purchase special equipment that allows us to safely reach even the most inaccessible places.

And that’s not all. So far we’ve only focused on one main location, but in the coming period we’ll start preparing a second home for the Butterfly King, which is nearby. We have also walked the surrounding area in detail, mapping the occurrence of both feeding and nectar plants, as well as the surrounding meadows and potential corridors that can serve as a network of stepping stones for the Apollo. These are the kind of microhabitats that help the butterfly king to cross the road when travelling to a new home or mate. It’s a bit like imagining the stones you use to hop from one side of a river to the other.

We’re looking forward to getting the place all smelling and buzzing. Last year, the restored rocky areas have already attracted various species of flowering plants and insects, which had not had enough space and light here before, including, for example, Hornet moth tied to the Spurges or Zygaena ephialtes, which was known on the Czech and Polish side of the Krkonoše Mountains from only one location, although it used to be common here in the past. And thanks to the new finds of rare butterflies last year, it is now indisputable that the activities aimed at the return of Parnassius Apollo are helping several of the rarest butterfly species in the Krkonoše Mountains, such as the least and forest Small blue or the Silver-spotted skipper, to survive.

The Parnassius Apollo, as this large mountain butterfly is also called after the god Apollo, is facing great difficulties today. Its numbers are declining rapidly across central Europe due to deteriorating conditions in its natural habitat, which are affected by both human activity and climate change. Even in the aforementioned sites in Poland and Slovakia, it is no longer thriving, mainly due to the abandonment of traditional farming practices, where excess and sprawling plants were regulated primarily by grazing animals. Last year, Parnassius apollo numbers declined by somewhere up to 90%. This project could thus play a key role in conserving the Central European gene pool of this iconic species and maintaining the population of this butterfly in our region.

The caterpillars of the next generation of Parnassius Apollo hatched from eggs in the rescue kennel a few weeks ago, and now there are hundreds of them. The actual hatching of the butterflies could take place in June, after which we plan the first experimental release of males at the Krkonoše sites where the field work mentioned last year took place. It does not make much sense to reshape the habitat according to the so-called “human view”, even if we are convinced that our efforts are correct. By observing certain behavioural traits of butterflies, which they can demonstrate directly in the field, we can learn from unnecessary mistakes and guide our efforts in the right direction.

Butterflies for beginners Events 

Summary of Apollo EduActivities in Austria 2023

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The LIFEApollo2020 project includes educational activities aiming at raising awareness about the need of preserving the Parnassius apollo butterfly. This species serves as an umbrella species, meaning its well-being reflects the overall health of its habitat. By focusing on the conservation of this flagship species, the project indirectly addresses the conservation needs of the entire ecosystem it inhabits. Moreover, the project emphasizes inclusivity by actively involving the broader community in environmental conservation efforts and promoting social responsibility. Through workshops and hands-on activities, participants are engaged in learning about the life cycle and ecological significance of the Apollo butterfly.

School Workshops in Austria:

As part of the LIFEApollo 2020 project, our Austrian partner, the European Wilderness Society, in collaboration with butterfly expert Otto Feldner, conducted  numerous engaging workshops in various Austrian schools, from kinder-gardens to high schools. These workshops were designed to capture the attention and curiosity of students and to create an interactive learning environment. 

Throughout these sessions, students were introduced to the captivating world of Apollo butterflies, delving into every stage of their life cycle, from eggs to fully developed adults. Vital topics such as habitat requirements, overwintering behaviors, and the significance of specific feeding plants essential for Apollo butterflies were covered in detail. Notably, these workshops ignited a sense of enthusiasm among students, who eagerly shared their knowledge about butterflies. This enthusiastic response underscores the importance of fostering a connection between young minds and the natural world.

Creation of Apollo Gardens:

The LIFEApollo2020 project also aims to build Apollo gardens, unique spaces dedicated to cultivating food plants essential for the caterpillars and butterflies of the Apollo species. In Austria, two such gardens were established, one involving secondary school students and the other engaging children from a kindergarten. These gardens not only served as educational tools but also as practical conservation measures. Students eagerly participated in their production, and during construction, the significance of plants that attract butterflies—especially the vital Sedum for the Apollo caterpillar—was highlighted. The success of the Apollo Gardens was evident through the satisfaction expressed by smiling students and teachers involved in the activity.

Nature Festival:

In Autumn, European Wilderness Society took an advantage of the chance to reach a wider audience by participating in the “Fest der Natur” event in Wels, Austria. EWS was one of more than thirty exhibitors that presented presented nature conservation initiatives. The engaging event featured interactive games and content designed to educate both younger and older about the importance and protection of the Parnassius apollo butterfly. By providing a platform for participants to actively learn and engage in nature conservation, the event highlighted the broader significance of protecting local nature and biodiversity. The positive response and varied program ensured that the project’s message resonated effectively.

Project news 

Happy Winter Holidays!

Posted By: Kamila Redererova 674 Views 0 Comment

As snow covers the landscape, marking the end of the Apollo butterfly season, our project team wrapped up the outdoor activities with a final round of debushing in various regions. As we transitioned from the field to the office, we were immersed in the task of analysing and summing up monitoring data from our breeding farms and habitat monitoring.

Reflecting on the previous year, our international team is proud of not only the successful breeding and habitat preservation efforts, but also the impactful educational activities held to promote awareness about the Parnassius apollo. During the peak seasons of Apollo butterfly activity, spring and summer, we organised a number of engaging events in Poland, Czechia, and Austria, such as the creation of Apollo gardens, school classes, workshops, or open days. These activities were intended to emphasise the importance of protecting nature and our mountain Apollo.

And what actually happens to Apollo during the winter? This butterfly employ a unique survival strategy. As adults, Apollos do not migrate or overwinter, preferring the warmth of the sun. Before dying in late summer or early autumn, Apollo butterflies place their eggs near caterpillar food plants. There, the eggs patiently endure the cold and even snow, waiting for warmer days to arrive and begin their incredible transformation from a small egg to a magnificent butterfly.

As we conclude this year, we extend warm holiday wishes to all, with gratitude for your support in our efforts to conserve these creatures. May the festive season bring you joy, peace, and the warmth of cherished moments. See you in 2024!