What is the largest butterfly in the world?

The largest butterfly in the world is the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing. Its wingspan averages 11 to 12 inches in females and 6.7 to 7.4 in males. Female Queen Alexandra's Birdwing butterflies are larger than males, but the males of the species are far more colorful.

Females are chocolate brown, and males have a yellow abdomen with green-and-aquamarine wings. The Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is one of the rarest butterflies in the world and is only found in the rainforests of New Guinea. It is an endangered species and is threatened by the destruction of the rainforest. Unfortunately, this butterfly is also popular among collectors and on the black market; this species sells for as much as $10,000 in the U.S.