This document discusses butterflies and moths found in the Alpiarça region of Portugal. It aims to enhance and protect local species and habitats, develop environmental awareness, and monitor biodiversity. A field trip is planned to study butterflies, bringing observation materials. The life cycles of moths are explained, and differences between diurnal and nocturnal insects. Specific butterfly and moth species found in the region are then described, including characteristics, host plants, behaviors and threats. The largest butterfly in Portugal and monarch butterfly migration are also mentioned.

1. Butterflies
and
Moths

2. Let’s study the butterflies in Alpiarça!

3. Green Lesson aims
• Enhance and protect species and habitats
characteristic of the region;
• Develop environmental and cultural awareness and
respect;
• Recognize butterflies as an important environmental
quality;
• Know and disclose some species of butterflies, flora
and fauna of the region, contributing to the
monitoring of its biodiversity;
• Increase knowledge about the Portuguese butterflies
exploring their life cycles and sharing the information
with other European countries;
• Establish associations between butterflies and flora of
the region.

4. Green Lesson
Please bring:
- Comfortable clothes and shoes;
- Cap/hat
- Water
- Sun protector
- Pen or pencil/observation worksheet
- “Bring your own devices” (photos,
record)

5. O
b
s
e
r
v
a
t
i
o
n
W
o
r
k
s
h
e
e
t

6. Where’s the butterfly?

8. Life cycle of a moth

9. Life cycle of a moth
Eggs

10. Life cycle of a moth
caterpillars

11. Life cycle of a moth
Chrysalis

12. Life cycle of a moth
Imago

13. Diurnal vs. Nocturnal
• Antennas clubs
• In rest position closes its wings
vertically above your body,
staying visible to the bottom of
the wings
• Antennas with several
Forms (feathery,
filiform, etc.)
• In the rest position the wings are
horizontally or forming a kind of
"roof" over the body, making
visible the upper wings

14. Curiosities
• The largest Butterfly in
Portugal is the
“Charaxius jasius” - the
butterfly of the
strawberry tree.

15. Relationship butterfly/host plant

16. In the Group of the Lepidoptera, the monarch butterfly (Danaus
plexippus), is one that has a larger capacity and migratory long
distances between the breeding area in the Canadian Summer and
overwintering area in Mexico!. In addition to seasonal migration the
Monarch has arrived also to Europe, and settled in some places.

17. Diurnal Butterflies

18. Iphiclides feisthamelii
• Flies from February to
December
• Host plant: Blackthorn,
peach and Pear
• Caterpillar has
osmeterium which
displays when
threatened.
• By the reduction of
habitats the species
took refuge in orchards

19. Pieris brassicae(big cabbage butterfly)
• Flies from January to
December
• Host plant: cabbages
and turnips
• Can be pests
• Eggs laid in numerous
groups
• Individuals who are born
in summer are migratory
species
• Most species are
adapted to urban
environments

20. Pieris rapae (small cabbage butterfly)
• Flies from February
to November
• Host plant:
cabbages and
turnips
• Eggs laid singly on
the underside of
leaves
• Habitat: cultivated
fields and meadows
in bloom

21. Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral)
• Flies from January to
December
• Host plant: nettle
• Practice hill-topping
• The Caterpillar
builds individual
nests uniting leaves
with silk yarn

22. Vanessa Cardui
• Flies March through
October
• Host plant: Thistles,
acanthus-bastard,
loves, mauve and
nettles
• Chrysalis is sensitive
to cold

23. Inachios io (diurnal peacock)
• Flies from July to
may of the
following year
• Host plant: nettle
• The Caterpillar is
gregarious
• The adult hibernates
in rustic
constructions, flying
on sunny days in
winter

24. Pararge aegeria (malhadinha)
• Flies from January to
December
• Host plant: various
grasses
• Daytime and nighttime
while small Caterpillar
in order of growth
• The male is territorial
and rarely leaves his
observation post

25. Maniola jurtina (medlar butterfly)
• Flies from March to
October
• Host plant: grasses
• Caterpillar feeds on
down to the last
day changes,
passing then to be
nocturnal

26. Moths

27. Saturnia pyri (nocturne peacock)
• Flies from March to
June
• Host plant: Apple
trees, pear trees,
peach trees, ash,
willow and Poplar
• Can be in the
cocoon about
three years

28. Insects

29. Insects