1. Introduction to the world of
butterflies
Butterflies and moths make up a large group of insects known as the order
Lepidoptera. The name – from the Greek lepido “scale”, and ptera “wings” – refers to
a prominent feature of adult butterflies and moths: the tiny scales that cover the
wings.
Butterflies are wonderfully diverse in shape, size and colour. They are found
everywhere around the world except near the Poles.
There are about 200.000 known species of Lepidoptera, of which about 10% are
butterflies. Based on their anatomy, they are classified into six families: the Pieridae,
commonly known as whites and sulphurs; the Papilionidae, or swallowtails; the
Nymphalidae, including the morphos, the owl butterfly and the longwings; the
Hesperiidae, or skippers; the Libytheidae, or snout butterflies; and the small Lycanidae.
The butterfly begins its life as an egg, emerges as a caterpillar, and then undergoes a
complete change in body form during development- the dramatic metamorphosis.
The caterpillar looks nothing like the winged adult. After hatching from the egg, the
caterpillar spends most of its time eating leaves and gaining weight. It undergoes
several moults of its skin until it becomes fully grown. The caterpillar, then, enters the
pupal stage, when it neither feeds nor moves. From the outside, it appears as though
the pupa, also known as the chrysalis, is resting. In reality, though, the larval tissues
completely break down and reorganise within the pupal skin. What emerges from the
chrysalis is a fully formed adult butterfly.
The wings are initially soft and shrivelled, but soon they expand and harden. The
butterfly then takes flight to pursue its main adult activities, mating and reproduction.
It has no time to waste - adults of most species live for only a few weeks.
The greatest threat to the worlds’ butterflies is the loss of habitat which is due
primarily to human activities such as agriculture, logging, urban expansion, industry,
recreation and pollution. Some human actions take a direct toll on butterfly
populations. Pesticides do not always distinguish between “pests” and harmless
creatures. Some herbicides destroy butterflies’ foodplants.
What can we do? We need to change our uses of land and conserve butterfly habitats.
We need to promote research on butterflies because so little is known about them.
And we need to increase public awareness and education about butterflies, through
exhibitions like butterfly parks.
All of the butterflies in our park come from butterfly farms, commercial ventures
praised by environmentalists. Butterfly farming offer a way for people to make a living
by using the tropical forest instead of cutting it down. There are now farms in most
tropical countries.
