The Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is the biggest butterfly in the world. The Queen Alexandra's Birdwing has a wingspan of 1 foot (30 cm). This huge, poisonous butterfly lives in the rain forests of Papua, New Guinea.
It starts life as a tiny egg that hatches into a black and red caterpillar with a cream-colored spot. After eating and growing, the caterpillar becomes a pupa and eventually emerges as a fully-grown adult. Adult butterflies do not have jaws; they can only sip liquid nectar through a straw-like proboscis.
This butterfly is in danger of extinction; its rainforest habitat is being reduced as oil palm plantations are created.