Moselle Apollo butterfly is "Butterfly of the Year"
The extremely rare Moselle Apollo butterfly is the "Butterfly of the Year" for 2024. By choosing this subspecies of the Apollo butterfly, environmentalists and butterfly experts are highlighting the serious threat to this species, as announced by the German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation.
The butterfly is found exclusively in the lower Moselle valley in Rhineland-Palatinate and lives on steep rocks and walls surrounded by vineyards. The number of butterflies has been in massive decline since 2012. In this context, environmentalists are particularly critical of the use of pesticides in conventional viticulture. The butterfly with the white wings with black and red spots is reportedly one of the largest butterflies in Germany.
The recognition of the Moselle Apollo butterfly as "Butterfly of the Year" has brought attention to its plight, prompting actions from the Science sector and the Federation for Environment and Nature Conservation. These organizations are urging for stricter regulations on pesticide use in vineyards, considering the butterfly's habitat is primarily within steep vineyard areas.
Source: www.dpa.com
