Jamaica’s Critically Endangered Butterfly: A Review of the Biology and Conservation Status of the Homerus Swallowtail (Papilio (Pterourus) homerus Fabricius)

Jamaica’s Homerus swallowtail, Papilio (Pterourus) homerus Fabricius, once thrived across seven parishes but now survives in just two stronghold populations: the Cockpit Country and the Blue and John Crow Mountains. This critically endangered butterfly, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, faces severe population decline with unknown total numbers in its remaining habitats. Despite extensive studies on its life history, no breeding program exists to establish an experimental population for conservation efforts. The study reviews the species' biology and urges immediate action, including habitat protection and a breeding program, to prevent extinction and ensure its survival.

Lehnert, M. S., Kramer, V. R., Rawlins, J. E., Verdecia, V., & Daniels, J. C. (2017). Jamaica’s Critically Endangered Butterfly: A Review of the Biology and Conservation Status of the Homerus Swallowtail (Papilio (Pterourus) homerus Fabricius). Insects, 8(3), 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects8030068