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

Posted By: Kamila Redererova 416 Views 0 Comment , ,

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!

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Dogs on a Mission: Conserving Wildlife with Naturschutzhunde

Posted By: Vlado Vancura 428 Views 0 Comment , ,

Conservation efforts are evolving with new and innovative approaches. One of our most exciting tools is the Naturschutzhunde, or “conservation dogs”. These specially trained dogs are helping us protect nature and endangered species, playing a vital role in our conservation projects. Their incredible sense of smell makes them indispensable partners in our mission to preserve biodiversity.

Dogs have long served as valuable companions, but their roles have expanded far beyond traditional uses like hunting or guarding. Today, dogs are involved in many fields, including law enforcement, rescue operations, and now, conservation. Over the last 30 years, they have become essential in research and environmental protection projects, including the LIFEApollo2020 project and the Verein NATURSCHUTZHUNDE.

What Are Naturschutzhunde?

Naturschutzhunde are detection dogs trained to find specific wildlife or environmental clues. These dogs can detect traces of elusive or rare species through clues like droppings, nests, feathers, or seeds. For example, they can identify the presence of wolves, helping to inform herding protection measures. They also help track species like lynxes, golden jackals, and wildcats, assisting conservationists in learning more about their distribution.

Here, Naturschutzhunde have become key members of our team, helping us monitor and protect endangered species. These dogs allow us to gather accurate data efficiently while minimizing human disturbance in sensitive areas.

Training the Dogs

Training a Naturschutzhund is a complex process. These dogs learn to detect species-specific markers like larvae, droppings, or nests. Once trained, they can cover large areas quickly and with great accuracy, detecting traces of wildlife that are invisible to the human eye.

The training, based on positive reinforcement, teaches dogs to recognize specific scents and clearly indicate them to their handlers. Suitable candidates for this work are physically fit dogs that enjoy using their noses and can work long hours in challenging terrain. This certification process ensures that the dogs meet high standards before they begin working in the field.

The Role of Naturschutzhunde in the LIFEApollo2020 Project

In the LIFEapollo2020 project, we rely on Naturschutzhunde to monitor and protect Apollo butterfly populations in Austria. This initiative aims to restore the butterfly’s populations across Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The dogs play a critical role in these monitoring efforts across 15 regions in Austria.

How Naturschutzhunde Help:

  1. Finding Larvae: Our dogs are trained to locate Apollo larvae in Sedum-rich areas, which are often difficult to reach. The dogs’ ability to detect larvae is essential to our work.
  2. Accessing Remote Areas: Many of the Apollo’s habitats are located in mountainous regions that are hard for humans to access. Naturschutzhunde help us cover these areas more effectively than human teams alone.

Achievements So Far

Thanks to Naturschutzhunde, we were able to detect Apollo butterfly larvae in several of the 15 areas we surveyed in 2023 and 2024. This has allowed us to protect key regions where butterfly populations remain active.

Naturschutzhunde have proven to be highly effective in various other conservation tasks as well. For instance, they are employed to locate the carcasses of birds and bats near wind turbines, helping us assess the impact of wind farms on protected species. Their superior sense of smell allows them to detect smaller remains in less time than humans.

Researching rare and hidden species often presents challenges, as direct observation is difficult. Scientists typically rely on indirect evidence like droppings, hair, or remains of prey. Naturschutzhunde are excellent at locating these traces, working much faster and more accurately than human researchers. Several of our dog-handler teams are already engaged in scientific projects, further advancing conservation efforts.

Conclusion

Naturschutzhunde have become vital partners in our mission to protect endangered species. Their work in the LIFEapollo2020 project highlights how effective they are in helping safeguard wildlife and fragile ecosystems. As we look to the future, we are confident that these conservation dogs will continue to play an essential role in preserving Austria’s—and Europe’s—natural heritage.

In a world where the connection between humans and nature is more critical than ever, Naturschutzhunde are helping bridge that gap. Their unique abilities allow them to protect endangered species while fostering a deeper bond between humans and the natural world

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The effect of climate change on the Parnassius Apollo butterfly

Posted By: Maureen 604 Views 0 Comment ,

Written by Maureen Nieuwschepen

This article is the second in a two-part, scientifically-based series on Parnassius apollo.

Worldwide climate change effects – changing weather patterns and shifting temperature ranges

Climate change, caused by increased levels of greenhouse gasses, is leading to changing weather patterns and an increase in extreme weather events worldwide (Scott, 2016), with an increase in daily temperature and precipitation extremes especially. For example, there has been an increase in daily record-high temperatures in Europe compared to daily record-low temperatures and this ratio is projected to increase in the future (Ummenhofer & Meehl, 2017). As air temperature increases, air water holding capacity will also change, influencing precipitation patterns. Heavy rainfall events and the duration of dry periods are increasing and are expected to increase in intensity in the future (Scott, 2016), thereby negatively affecting terrestrial ecosystem production across biomes (Zhang et al., 2013). Other climate change effects significantly impacting terrestrial ecosystems are, for example, increased numbers of heat waves and wildfires (Ummenhofer & Meehl, 2017).

For Europe specifically, climate change has led to an earlier onset of summer, with a change of ~10 days between 1960 and 2000 (Cassou & Cattiaux, 2016). The projected effects of climate change on terrestrial Europe are looking grim. Not only is Europe subjected to worldwide trends in climate change-induced weather effects, such as increases in precipitation extremes and severity of droughts, but Europe also faces unique challenges according to climate prediction models (Carvalho et al., 2021).  Mean temperatures have increased almost double compared to the global average rate (Harris et al., 2014). This trend is predicted to persist in the future, with the highest relative temperature increase in Iberia, the Mediterranean, the Alps, Scandinavia, and Eastern and Northern Europe (IPCC, 2018). 

Climate change effects specifically for central Europe and P. apollo habitats 

Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) habitats are mainly located in central European highlands. Climate change disproportionately affects mountainous areas, with more severe temperature rises than other ecosystems (Nogués-Bravo et al., 2007). Also, mountains are unique in their gradient of microhabitats along an altitudinal scale, which makes them harder to place into generalizable patterns. An upward shift in the distribution of plant and animal species has already been detected in European mountain areas (Lenoir et al., 2008), as temperatures are generally lower at higher altitudes. For plants, it is already established that the projected habitat loss is more significant for species found at higher elevations. 36-55% of alpine species, 31-51% of subalpine species, and 19-46% of montane species can lose over 80% of their suitable habitat by 2070-2100 (Engler et al., 2011). 

Effect on P. apollo

Temperature increases

As P. apollo habitats are situated in mountain areas, they have been and are subjected to climate change to a severe extent. Firstly, increasing temperatures drive butterflies northwards. During the last few decades, P. apollo retracted northwards along both the northern and southern boundaries of its range (Parmesan et al., 1999).  Another response to the rising temperatures might be the earlier onset of larval hatching. 

In the French Brançon region of the Alps, populations exhibited earlier larval hatching, along with a one-month shift in the emergence of flying adults in biotopes above 1900 a.s.l. (Descimon et al., 2005).

Weather anomalies

Weather anomalies caused by climate change might have catastrophic effects on P. apollo populations. Several events have been documented that caused big declines in population sizes or caused bottlenecks. The events have been documented before the year 2000 but do show the vulnerability of Apollo populations to weather anomalies.

In the Pieniny mountains in 1957, following an early and warm spring, a prolonged period of cold and rainy weather accompanied by snowfall in July caused a bottleneck for the regional P. apollo populations (Żukowski 1959). As males emerge from pupae earlier than females, those emerging in June could not mate due to the absence of females. Subsequently, when females did appear after the cold weather, only a limited number were fertilized as only a few males survived. 

A ‘false spring’ event in winter, i.e., a warm period followed by a return of the cold, in the late 1980s caused the decline of P. apollo populations in the southern part of the Central Massif in France (Descimon et al., 2005). A repetition of the event ten years later caused the complete extinction of these populations.

P. apollo larvae are adapted to low ambient temperatures, including temperatures below 0°C. The dark pigmentation of their cuticle enables rapid warming in sunlight for feeding. This trait is considered crucial in mountain habitats, where the maximum daily temperature rarely exceeds 15°C during the larval development stage (Richarz et al., 1989). However, larvae are highly susceptible to humidity. On cold and rainy days, larvae stop feeding and significantly reduce their locomotion. Consequently, extended periods of heavy rainfall, especially when combined with low ambient temperatures, decrease larval development and increase mortality rates (Descimon et al., 2005). However, temperatures above 40°C may also significantly increase larval mortality rates as they become more prone to developing opportunistic diseases, i.e., infections (Descimon et al., 2005). 

Natural forest expansion

Across Europe, forests are common climax ecosystems, especially in the central and northern regions of the continent. The progression of forest succession significantly challenges P. apollo populations, leading to the fragmentation of habitats and reducing the food plant availability for both larvae and adults (Nakonieczny et al., 2007). So far, this process has mostly affected lowland areas. Consequently, natural succession of forests has been mostly threatening ‘telephiophagous’ forms, i.e., feeding on S. telephium, of P. apollo, rather than the forms feeding on S. album.

However, the alpine grasslands above the treeline inhabited by P. apollo are also severely threatened by climate change due to upward forest expansion driven by increasing temperatures (Hülber et al., 2020).  This means that the albophagous forms are also threatened, especially when taking the predictions for temperature increase at higher altitude into consideration.

Conclusion

 Climate change affects both P. apollo populations, the availability of host plants for caterpillars and habitat persistence. Small and isolated populations are more susceptible to extreme weather conditions, which can lead to a bottleneck effect or complete extinction of the local population. Efficient conservation strategies are essential for the survival of the species, and will enhance habitat conditions for other species thriving in similar environments.  Projects like LIFE Apollo2020 are crucial in developing and implementing these strategies, playing a vital role in the conservation of P. apollo.

Bibliography

Descimon, H. (1995). La conservation des Parnassius en France: aspects zoogéographiques, écologiques, démographiques et génétiques (Vol. 1, pp. 1-54). Editions OPIE.

Descimon, H., Bachelard, P., Boitier, E., & Pierrat, V. (2005). Decline and extinction of Parnassius apollo populations in France-continued. Studies on the Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies in Europe, 1, 114-115.

Engler, R., Randin, C. F., Thuiller, W., Dullinger, S., Zimmermann, N. E., Araujo, M. B., … & Guisan, A. (2011). 21st century climate change threatens mountain flora unequally across Europe. Global change biology, 17(7), 2330-2341.

Harris, I. P. D. J., Jones, P. D., Osborn, T. J., & Lister, D. H. (2014). Updated high‐resolution grids of monthly climatic observations–the CRU TS3. 10 Dataset. International journal of climatology, 34(3), 623-642. 

Hülber, K., Kuttner, M., Moser, D., Rabitsch, W., Schindler, S., Wessely, J., … & Dullinger, S. (2020). Habitat availability disproportionally amplifies climate change risks for lowland compared to alpine species. Global Ecology and Conservation, 23, e01113.

IPCC 2018: Special Report Global Warming of 1.5°C. https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/

Lenoir, J., Gégout, J. C., Marquet, P. A., de Ruffray, P., & Brisse, H. (2008). A significant upward shift in plant species optimum elevation during the 20th century. Science, 320(5884), 1768-1771.

Nakonieczny, M., Kedziorski, A., & Michalczyk, K. (2007). Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo L.) in Europe–its history, decline and perspectives of conservation. Functional Ecosystems and Communities, 1(1), 56-79.

Nogués-Bravo, D., Araújo, M. B., Errea, M. P., & Martínez-Rica, J. P. (2007). Exposure of global mountain systems to climate warming during the 21st Century. Global environmental change, 17(3-4), 420-428.

Massolo, A., Fric, Z. F., & Sbaraglia, C. (2022). Climate Change Effects on Habitat Suitability of a Butterfly in the Past, Present, and Future: Biotic Interaction between Parnassius apollo and Its Host Plants. University of Pisa.

Parmesan, C., Ryrholm, N., Stefanescu, C., Hill, J. K., Thomas, C. D., Descimon, H., … & Warren, M. (1999). Poleward shifts in geographical ranges of butterfly species associated with regional warming. Nature, 399(6736), 579-583.

Richarz, N., Neumann, D., & Wipking, W. (1989). Untersuchungen zur ökologie des Apollofalters (Parnassius apollo vinningensis, Stichel 1899, Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) im Weinbaugebiet der unteren Mosel. Mitt der Assoc Rheinisch-Westfälischer Lepidopterologen, 5, 108-259.

Zhang, Y., Susan Moran, M., Nearing, M. A., Ponce Campos, G. E., Huete, A. R., Buda, A. R., … & Starks, P. J. (2013). Extreme precipitation patterns and reductions of terrestrial ecosystem production across biomes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 118(1), 148-157.Żukowski, R. (1959). Problemy zaniku i wymierania motyla Parnassius apollo L. na ziemiach polskich. Sylwan, 103(06-07).

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Migratory history and ecology of the Apollo butterfly

Posted By: Maureen 2072 Views 0 Comment ,

Written by Maureen Nieuwschepen


This article is the first in a two-part, scientifically-based series on Parnassius apollo.

Origin and migratory history

The Parnassius genus first originated in Laurasia (now West-China, Fig. 1) in the early Paleogen (about 65 million years ago). The collision of the Indian tectonic plate into the Asian continent, during the Miocene epoch (23.03 – 5.33 million years ago), resulted in the formation of the Himalayan mountain ranges in Central Asia and thereby a dramatic change in habitats. The Himalayan plateau blocked the Asian monsoon and reduced precipitation in Central Asia (Quade et al., 1989), which led to an increase in steppe plants. The changes in biotic (host plant shift) and abiotic (climate change and orogeny (i.e. mountain formation by converging tectonic plates)) conditions led to the first large-scale radiation of Parnassius into more than 50 species (Condamine et al., 2018). 

Figure 1. World map showing the origin and radiation center of the genus Parnassius (orange) and the approximate current distribution of Parnassius apollo (blue). Information retrieved from Nakonieczny et al., 2007.

Further diversification

One Parnassius species, Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758), dispersed far westward towards Europe and northwards until the permanent snow cover border (Nakonieczny et al., 2007).  During this time, it was still a vast steppe species. The first glaciation in Europe drove P. apollo southwards into refuges (Nakonieczny et al., 2007). Further subsequent glacial-interglacial cycles fueled the expansion and retraction of P. apollo and its occupations and withdrawals in and out of refuges. These ongoing dynamics most probably have led to the further subspecific evolution within P. apollo, leading to over  200 described subspecies in Europe (Todisco et al., 2010). Similar, but to a lesser extent dynamic, processes occurred in the Asian P. apollo range, explaining the difference in subspecies variety between Europa and Asia.

Current distribution

The shrinking steppe habitat in Europe posed selective pressure on P. apollo, leading to a gradual change from a typical steppe species to a mountain-steppe species (Nakonieczny et al., 2007). Now, P. Apollo is considered a steppe and mountain-subalpine-sub boreal species, occupying many different habitats in a wide distribution range (Descimon, 1995).  Its extensive Palaearctic range spans from 7° W (Cantabrian Mountains, Spain) to 120° E (Yakutia, Russia), including the Khentei Mountains in Mongolia. Its latitudinal distribution spans from 62° N (western Finland and Oppland, Norway) to approximately 38° N (Sierra Gádor in Spain, La Madonie massif in Sicily, Mt. Erímanthos in Greece, and West Taurus massif in northeastern Turkey) (summarized from several sources by Nakonieczny et al., 2007)(Fig. 1).

Description

The appearance of P. Apollo makes it one of Europe’s most iconic butterflies, with its 50-80 mm wingspan, chalk-white wings, grey markings, and black and red spots. Males and females differ in their patterns on the fore and hindwings, indicating sexual dimorphism. The different subspecies vary in size, wing shape, and wing pattern. However, the red spots are always present on the hindwings (Bonin et al., 2024).

Figure 2. Female Parnassius apollo

Apollo habitats in Europe

P. Apollo habitats in Europe typically consist of dry calcareous grasslands and steppes in upland areas, and alpine and subalpine grassland. Rocky habitats and screes are also suitable, but below an altitude limit dependent on the mountain range (up to 1,800 m a.s.l. in the Carpathians, 2,500 m a.s.l. in the Alps, and 3,000 m a.s.l. in the Sierra Nevada (Nakonieczny et al., 2007). Regardless of habitat type, the availability of suitable food plants for the larvae is crucial.  

Figure 3. Map of Europe with Parnassius apollo distribution in blue ( Information retrieved from Nakonieczny et al., 2007.)

Host plants

P. apollo is an oligophagous species, i.e., it is restricted to a few specific food sources. Larvae (caterpillars) feed on Sedum album (Linnaeus, 1758) (Fig. 4) or Hylotelephium telephium (Linnaeus, 1758) (Fig. 5) (Nakonieczny & Kędziorski, 2005). These are Sedum species, or stonecrop, which can live in dry conditions due to their CAM strategy (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) (Wai et al., 2019). Lowland P. apollo populations primarily feed on H. telephium, as it grows in open forests and meadows. In contrast, higher altitude P. apollo populations predominantly feed on S. album, a species found in calcareous rocky environments (Stephenson, 1994).  This divides European P. apollo populations into ‘telephiophagous’ forms, feeding on H. telephium and ‘albophagous’ forms, feeding on S. album. Flying adult butterflies rely on a broader range of nectariferous plants for their nectar source, depending on the availability in the area (Massolo et al., 2022).

Figure 4. Sedum album
Figure 5. Hylotelephium telephium

Life cycle

The P. Apollo life cycle (Fig. 6) lasts one year and is univoltine, i.e., overwintering in the egg stage (Bonin et al, 2024).  Females lay eggs that remain dormant over the winter and hatch in the spring of the following year.  The larvae feed on the host plants until they develop fully in size while going through several molts. After this phase, the caterpillar turns into metamorphosis, becoming a pupa. The pupa does not feed but relies on the energy stored from the food it consumed as a larva (Gilbert et al., 1996).  While in the pupa state, the metamorphosis of larva to adult butterfly occurs through a complex series of biochemical reactions, controlled by neural and hormonal mechanisms (Gilbert et al., 1996). 

Figure 6. Photos of all P. apollo life stages, i.e., egg, caterpillar, pupa, and imago

Bibliography

Bonin, L., Jeromen, M., & Jeran, M. (2024). Endangered Butterflies and Their Conservation: the Decline of Parnassius apollo and Phengaris spp. in Europe and Slovenia. Proceedings of Socratic Lectures. 10, 117-125.

Condamine, F. L., Rolland, J., Höhna, S., Sperling, F. A., & Sanmartín, I. (2018). Testing the role of the Red Queen and Court Jester as drivers of the macroevolution of Apollo butterflies. Systematic biology, 67(6), 940-964.

Descimon, H., Bachelard, P., Boitier, E., & Pierrat, V. (2005). Decline and extinction of Parnassius apollo populations in France-continued. Studies on the Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies in Europe, 1, 114-115.

Gilbert, S. F., Opitz, J. M., & Raff, R. A. (1996). Resynthesizing evolutionary and developmental biology. Developmental biology, 173(2), 357-372.

Massolo, A., Fric, Z. F., & Sbaraglia, C. (2022). Climate Change Effects on Habitat Suitability of a Butterfly in the Past, Present, and Future: Biotic Interaction between Parnassius Apollo and Its Host Plants. University of Pisa.

Nakonieczny, M., & Kędziorski, A. (2005). Feeding preferences of the Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo ssp. frankenbergeri) larvae inhabiting the Pieniny Mts (southern Poland). Comptes rendus. Biologies, 328(3), 235-242.

Nakonieczny, M., Kedziorski, A., & Michalczyk, K. (2007). Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo L.) in Europe–its history, decline and perspectives of conservation. Functional Ecosystems and Communities, 1(1), 56-79.

Quade, J., Cerling, T. E., & Bowman, J. R. (1989). Development of Asian monsoon revealed by marked ecological shift during the latest Miocene in northern Pakistan. Nature, 342(6246), 163-166.

Stephenson, R. (1994). Sedum: cultivated stonecrops. Timber press, Portland. (pp. 335-pp).

Todisco, V., Gratton, P., Cesaroni, D., & Sbordoni, V. (2010). Phylogeography of Parnassius apollo: hints on taxonomy and conservation of a vulnerable glacial butterfly invader. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 101(1), 169-183

Wai, C. M., Weise, S. E., Ozersky, P., Mockler, T. C., Michael, T. P., & VanBuren, R. (2019). Time of day and network reprogramming during drought induced CAM photosynthesis in Sedum album. PLoS genetics, 15(6), e1008209.

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Educational activities for the Apollo butterfly in Poland in 2023

Posted By: Aleksandra Puchtel 1109 Views 0 Comment

Education is one of the key tasks of the LIFE Apollo2020 project. The population of the Apollo butterfly Parnassius apollo has drastically declined over the past few decades, and the butterfly has become completely extinct in the Sudetes. Such a drastic collapse in the species’ population was the result of progressive changes in its habitat caused by alterations in the management of open areas. The restoration of the Apollo butterfly’s habitat and population is strictly dependent on a change in the attitude of the owners and managers of the areas where it once occurred. That is why it is essential to promote knowledge of this butterfly and its habitat requirements.

The Apollo butterfly is monophagous in its larval stage. This means that the caterpillars feed on only one group of plants – Crassulaceae, especially Sedum maximum. It grows mainly on rocky outcrops and xerothermic grasslands, often protected under the Natura 2000 network. These habitats are now rare in Sudetes due to the abandonment of traditional livestock grazing. Their protection and restoration require active conservation. Failure to do so means the disappearance of feeding sites for Apollo, leading to the extinction of the species in the area.

Another major reason for the extinction of the Apollo butterfly is collectors. Their large size and individually varied coloration make them unique butterflies. A distinctive feature – the lack of scales on their wings, making them virtually transparent in some parts – also makes them desirable to collectors. Their appearance becomes their curse.

Educating the public is crucial so that people realize the importance of nature and the need to preserve its integrity. Not only is the Apollo butterfly a beautiful part of our environment, but it is also a valuable component of the ecosystem. Like every species, it has a role to play in maintaining genetic diversity and aiding in the adaptation to changing climatic conditions. Their role in the pollination process contributes to the preservation of biodiversity, providing tangible benefits to humans in the form of increased yield and diversity of our food. Therefore, protecting Apollo and preserving its habitat is not only a duty to nature but also a matter of our own self-interest.

To achieve this, as part of the LIFE Apollo2020 project, the Klub Przyrodników (Naturalists’ Club) conducts educational activities aimed at people of all ages. During the spring-summer season, which is the time of Apollo butterfly activity, we organized a number of events and workshops of an educational nature, promoting the natural and cultural values of the region, and creating the so-called Land of Apollo.

Spring Snow Festival

Together with the caterpillars hatching from their eggs, we welcomed spring at the Sudetic Field Station in Uniemyśl. As part of the annual Spring Snow Festival, the First Flowers event was held to introduce participants to the first spring plants and insects. Participants took part in a field trip, a presentation on the breeding farm of Apollo, handicraft workshops, and cooking with wild plants.

Photos: Krzysztof Kalemba, Kamila Grzesiak

Happening for the Apollo

In May, at the Nature and Education Center of the Karkonosze National Park – Sobieszów Palace, we prepared an educational event for the opening of a citizen science campaign called Happening for the Apollo. Participants had the opportunity to sow a meadow for butterflies and bumblebees, make seed cards, and paint decorative stones. At the end, we flew with the Apollo and the KPN guide, all the way to the top of Chojnik Mountain, which is one of the reintroduction sites for this species. A very important part of the event was the presentation of our #WhereIsBigWhiteButterfly? campaign, which encourages anyone who has seen a large white butterfly to send us its photo and location at niepylak@kpnmab.pl. Our action has been met with interest, and we have already received the first sightings of the species. We hope to get even more submissions in the 2024 season!

Photos: Anna Bator-Kocoł

Open Days of Half-Timbered Houses

On the occasion of the Open Days of Half-Timbered Houses, we organized a fair of handicrafts, antiques, and regional products at our Sudetic Field Station in Uniemyśl. The event was combined with educational activities about the Apollo butterfly and meadow ecosystems: art workshops, an educational tour, and a presentation of the butterfly breeding farm.

Open Day at the Living Gene Bank

In July, an Open Day was held at the Living Gene Bank in Jagniątków, part of the Karkonosze National Park. One of the three Polish breeding farms of Parnassius apollo is located there. Guests had the opportunity to see Apollo butterflies at close range, those willing could even hold them on their hands. They learned about the biology and ecology of the Apollo, how the butterflies are bred, and why we do it.

Photos: Thomas Fleck, Aleksandra Puchtel

Chojnik Castle

Another event took place at Chojnik Castle when most of the females of Apollo had already laid eggs. It was an opportunity to witness a unique spectacle, the release of butterflies from the breeding farm in Jagniątkow, into the wild. These insects are intended to rebuild and strengthen the population in their natural habitat. We try to carry out activities until it reaches a level where it can self-sustain.

Photos: Piotr Słowiński

Day of the Apollo/Night of Horseshoe Bat

On the final weekend of August, another educational event took place – International Bat Night – the Day of the Apollo/Night of Horseshoe Bat in Uniemyśl. Participants said goodbye to the vacations in the company of day and night aviators, taking turns patrolling the mountain skies, and participated in workshops that gave them a lot of fun, but also a lot of knowledge about the Apollo butterfly and bats. It was also an opportunity to cooperate with another LIFE Project – LIFE Podkowiec Towers, run by the Polish Society of Wildlife Friends “pro Natura”.

Photos: Anna Bator-Kocoł

Climatic Karkonosze Festival

The last meeting with the Apollo butterfly was at the Climatic Karkonosze Festival at the Nature and at the Nature and Education Center of the Karkonosze National Park – Sobieszów Palace. During this picnic, visitors learned about the nature and cultural heritage of the Karkonosze Mountains. Due to the enormous anthropogenic pressure on Karkonosze nature, visitors were encouraged to hike along less frequented routes, where one can focus on the surrounding nature, consciously get to know the region, and relieve the most popular trails. In our tent, guests could hear about the LIFE Apollo2020 project, learn why the Apollo is such a special butterfly, why it is worth protecting, and sign up to volunteer for the next season.

Photos: Justyna Wierzchucka-Sajór

Conversations with the region’s residents and tourists show that our information campaigns and educational events are reaching more and more people. Knowledge of the project and understanding of the importance of protecting the Apollo butterfly and its habitat are spreading! We are pleased that this year we were able to count on the support of people who encountered the Apollo on their way and sent us this information. By raising awareness and sensitizing the public, we can work even more effectively to restore the population of these insects in the Sudety Mountains.

Authors: Anna Bator-Kocoł, Aleksandra Puchtel

#followapollo 

Happy New Year 2023: project recap

Posted By: Lisa Marie Mahlknecht 1106 Views 1 Comment

The highlight of the year was the project kick-off conference, which took place in September in Poland. Field experts shared their knowledge on the ecology and conservation of Parnassius apollo, and members of the consortium presented the project goals, as well as activities past and present.

The official project website was launched with several articles published on the butterfly and general activities since then. The website itself is available in the project languages of English, Czech, German and Polish. In November, LIFEApollo2020 released its first project newsletter to partners. If you want to stay up to date with project news, you can subscribe here.

Citizen science campaign

Citizen science is the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase scientific knowledge. Through citizen science, people can participate in many stages of the scientific process, from the design of the research question to data collection and volunteer mapping, data interpretation and analysis, and publication and dissemination of results.

The citizen science monitoring activities was launched by project partners in different countries by using the iNaturilist app and data from local nature protection NGOs.

Conference 2022

The memorable event of 2022 is the Kick-off conference of the LIFE Apollo2020 project. It kept what the name promised: an excellent mix of presentations and lively discussions on the topics of “Science, ecology and innovation for Parnassius apollo conservation in Central Europe”. Around 100 people gathered on-site in Jelenia Góra, in the beautiful building of Karkonosze National Park to discuss, learn, and exchange. Even more people participated online and watched the livestream of the conference on the first day.

Breeding activities

The breeding activities started in Poland. As well the breeding certification had been issued in all countries represented in the project. The plan of breeding activities was finalized, so thousands of caterpillars are going to be released in 2023.

The LIFE Apollo2020 project is thankful to everyone who was supporting and keeping in touch with the project during this year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

#followapollo Entertainment 

Apollo – A traffic stopper

Posted By: Lisa Marie Mahlknecht 1058 Views 0 Comment

The clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne), cousin of Parnassius apollo, is also threatened by habitat loss in Europe.

Once widespread across the state of Baden-Württemberg in Southern Germany, it is now only found in two valleys in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of the Swabian Jura. In one of these remaining strongholds, the Mühltal valley near Münsingen and Schelklingen, authorities closed district 7410 road between the two towns for a week of major habitat management.

Supporting measures

The clouded Apollo exclusively lays its eggs on Corydalis plants, on which the hatched caterpillars feed. The Biosphere reserve has undertaken research and habitat management measures for Parnassius mnemosyne for 8 years. After research on potential habitat for the butterfly in the Mühltal, experts found that Corydalis was very common around the 7410.By cutting back the plants, they are hoping to create ideal conditions for the clouded Apollo along the busy stretch of road. Similar activities in nearby Springen have yielded great results, with just two butterflies growing to a population of 153 in a few years.

These activities will not only support clouded Apollo conservation. Species such as the southern white admiral and the pearl-bordered fritillary will also benefit from these measures. At the slight inconvenience of prolonging car travel for a week, several butterfly species will have an increased chance of survival in the area. If more local or national authorities made decisions that put species conservation first, we would save many more butterfly species.

Picture: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

#followapollo and the efforts of our team! Combined skills in breeding, conservation of habitats, research, environmental education, and project management constitute a great combination for the success of our LIFE project

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Be part of our scientific team and #followapollo

Posted By: Lisa Marie Mahlknecht 1526 Views 1 Comment

Despite the fact that citizen science is a relatively new term, people have been participating and contributing to scientific research for years. The widespread availability of the Internet and the rapid development of smartphones made it easier to share and contribute information. Armed with phones that have built-in GPS receivers people can provide geo-location information about species or situations in real-time. Thus new networks and communities of interested citizen scientists are created each day to learn more about the world and how we can contribute to understanding it.

What exactly is citizen science?

Citizen science is the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase scientific knowledge. Through citizen science, people can participate in many stages of the scientific process, from the design of the research question to data collection and volunteer mapping, data interpretation and analysis, and publication and dissemination of results.

Different organisations and projects have been using different ways to integrate citizen scientists into their project and scientific question. Butterflies are the most well-known species among insects that citizen science has been used on for some time. LIFE Apollo2020 is focused on the conservation of Parnassius apollo butterfly and it requires some citizen science involvement.

Your contribution is important

The LIFE Apollo2020 project is focused on the conservation of the Apollo butterfly and you can help to make this project a success! Parnassius apollo is an umbrella species. This means, that by protecting the Apollo butterfly and its habitats, whole ecosystems for other species are also protected. So the more we know about the presence of the Apollo butterfly and its larvae’s feeding plants, the more we can do to protect it, its habitats and many other species.

Different organisations and projects have been using different ways to integrate citizen scientists into their projects and scientific questions. Butterflies are the most well-known species among insects that citizen science has been used on for some time – no worry though! Even if you have never been involved in any citizen science activity, you can take part – have fun and learn something!

Join the iNaturalist project now

To collect all of your observations we chose to use iNaturalist. It’s easy to use and provides great possibilities to collect and share your observations.

One of the world’s most popular nature apps, iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you. Get connected with a community of over a million scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! What’s more, by recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. 

iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/about

All you have to do to join is register on iNaturalist, search for our project “LIFE Citizen Science for Parnassius apollo“ and join it and record your observations.

  1. Join iNaturalist
  2. Join our project ” LIFE Citizen Science for Parnassius apollo”
  3. Record your observations of the Apollo butterfly or its larvaes feeding plants
  4. Contribute to the success of the project 🙂

What and where we are observing in iNaturalist

We aim to collect data about Parnassius apollo and its host plants in Czechia, Poland and Austria in the areas where it is reintroduced to nature within the LIFEApollo2020 project. Parnassius apollo is a typical mountain species, it usually occurs at relatively high altitudes (from 400 to 2300 m above sea level). So look out for it and its larvae’s feeding plants while hiking!

Both data about the incidence of adult individuals of the Apollo butterfly (imago) and about the locations of feeding plants for its larvae (the habitat is crucial for this stage of development) are collected!

Feeding plants for larvae:

Rhodiola rosea
Sedum alpestre
Sedum maximum
Sedum acre
Sedum album
Sempervivum soboliferum


The Citizen Science data collection process is being led in parallel with the observations done by entomologists (the Apollo butterfly) and by botanists (feeding plants). It is one of the multiple project actions and aims to engage the larger public in the monitoring measures for the conservation of Parnassius apollo.

Help us protect the Apollo

#followapollo and the efforts of our team! Combined skills in breeding, conservation of habitats, research, environmental education, and project management constitute a great combination for the success of our LIFE project

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#followapollo Project news 

“Iiiihs” and “aaaahs” : team Austria educates the smallest

Posted By: Lisa Marie Mahlknecht 1357 Views

The project partners strongly believe that social inclusion in nature conservation and strengthening of social responsibility are key factors for sustaining the reintroduced population. For this reason, a number of workshops have been held at schools in Austria in recent months. If we can’t get the smallest explorers among us excited about the Apollo butterfly and its protection, then who can we?

Austrian conservation action coordinator reports, what she has experienced in the schools, conducting the workshops with butterfly expert Otto Feldner:

Weißbach/Lofer

At the end of June, we visited the elementary school in Weißbach/Lofer. The school is a “Naturparkschule” and is located in the middle of the Weißbach nature park. Large butterfly stickers greeted us right at the school entrance. Accordingly, the 16 children of the 1st to 4th grade had already lot of knowledge about butterflies and insects in general. They could name many species, including very rare ones like Chazara briseis. The kids even wore butterfly pants and shorts. Many told us about the caterpillars they found on stinging nettles in the garden. Some children have even bred butterflies themselves, such as the little tortoiseshell or the peacock butterfly.

Otto showed the kids eggs and larvae in different stages from Parnassius apollo. The kids were of course very enthusiastic about that! We told them about the habitats that the Apollo butterfly needs, what is necessary to restore them, and about the project in general. Furthermore, they were asked to guess how many eggs an Apollo butterfly lays. Their guesses ranged from 1 to 20. They were amazed that the Red Apollo lays up to 100 eggs and that the caterpillars hibernate fully developed in their egg covers. In the end, they could touch some of the Apollo butterflies that Otto also brought with him which was the highlight of the whole workshop.

Next year we will meet again to create “Apollo gardens” together with the kids on the area of the school.

Maria Alm

On June 15th, we had a workshop about butterflies and the Red Apollo in the 2nd  grade of the elementary school in Maria Alm, Salzburg, Austria. Apollo-expert Otto Feldner was with us again. The children had already learned about butterflies in class and were able to tell us about many other native species in addition to P. apollo. Of course, they were very enthusiastic about the Apollo eggs, caterpillars and pupae that Otto had brought with him.

They learned about the specific habitats of P. apollo and what everyone can contribute to protect this beautiful and unique butterfly. In the end, we showed the kids the Apollo butterflies, which was of course the highlight of the whole workshop. The children also got butterfly seed bags as a little present and we hope that they will create many colorful flower meadows that will support butterfly biodiversity in Maria Alm.

Fusch/Großglocknerstraße

On the 23rd of May we conducted a school workshop about P. apollo and butterflies in the primary school in Fusch/Großglocknerstraße, Austria. 21 kids from the 1st and 2nd grades learned a lot about the flying beauties from our butterfly expert Otto Feldner.

The children already knew a lot about butterflies in general and could even distinguish between butterflies and moths. Otto brought some Apollo caterpillars and butterflies for the children to see and touch. That was the highlight for the children, even if the green excretions of the caterpillars caused quite a few “Iiiiiii”. At the end, the kids could play with puzzles and memories on different butterfly species. Each child also received a little bag with wildflower seeds to create an Apollo and butterfly paradise in the garden or on the balcony.

We will see each other again next spring because we will create “Gardens for Apollo” together with the children near the school. In addition, we might do an Apollo-excursion somewhere in the valley of Fusch.

We are looking forward to visit the school and would also like to thank the class teachers for their great interest and enthusiasm!

Interested in workshops at your school?

Contact our coordinator Lisa Marie Mahlknecht (lisa.mahlknecht@wilderness-society.org)

#followapollo and the efforts of our team! Combined skills in breeding, conservation of habitats, research, environmental education, and project management constitute a great combination for the success of our LIFE project

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An important birthday and why you should #followapollo

Posted By: Lisa Marie Mahlknecht 1295 Views , , , ,

30 years of bringing green ideas to LIFE is the motto of the birthday of the LIFE program, which also co-finances our LIFE Apollo2020 project. In these thirty years, the program has co-funded no less than 5.500 projects . Thirty successful years in which LIFE has helped over 1.800 wild animal and plant species, including of course our Parnassius apollo. The entire LIFE Apollo2020 team is very proud to be part of the LIFE family since last year.

So today LIFE turns 30 and we wish you all the best for your birthday! Here’s to at least 30 more years of success, giving us all hope and inspiration for the future.

LIFE is 30 – discover all actions

To celebrate this great day, we invite you to support our project, just as LIFE does:

Become a part of the LIFE family and #followapollo

In the coming weeks, months and yes, even years, we will not only share with you information about Parnassius apollo, its habitats and its relevance to our ecosystem but also show you how you can get active yourself and do your part to protect this beautiful butterfly and many more insects.

#followapollo means being active

Follow apollo means not only passively following but also being active! You only need your smartphone or tablet, open eyes and an attentive look and you are part of it. If you spot an Apollo butterfly, take a picture and upload it on iNaturalist in our project LIFE Citizen Science for Parnassius apollo.

And the best thing is, you can do it while hiking: The Apollo butterfly is a typical mountain species that prefers the meadows and pastures of the mountains of continental Europe. It usually occurs at altitudes from 400 to 2300 m above sea level. So put on your hiking boots and off you go!

Do you want to know more about Parnassius apollo, how to recognize it, which plants it needs or how big it grows? Then stay with us and #followapollo

#followapollo on iNaturalist

#followapollo on social media