http://indiabutterflies.tripod.com/ http://indiabutterflies.tripod.com/swallowtails/index.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_butterflies_of_India_(Morphinae) http://www.worldlingo.com/ma/enwiki/en/List_of_butterflies_of_India http://ifoundbutterflies.org/4 papilionoidea/papilio pol!mnestor dp" http://ifoundbutterflies.
org/general information/educational material from the indian foundation for butterflies
Beneficial Aspects of Butterflies:
Butterflies are categorized as keystone species, which enable many smaller species of insects to thrive and reproduce in an ecosystem. In simple terms, it denotes that conservation of butterflies, also conserves, other species of insects. on the number of butterfly species. In fact, the basic health of our ecosystem is directly dependent
Butterflies act as indicators in monitoring environmental health Play an important role in food chains and food webs.
Excellent pollinators Bio control of weeds
Butterflies are very ensitive to pollution and have been used as bio indicators to detect the pollution levels Facts:
!he fact of the matter is that most butterfly species have an average lifespan ranging from "# to $# days. % few species may live up to nine months Butterflies are found worldwide except on the continent of %ntarctica
Butterflies can only see the colours red, green and yellow
&ost butterfly species are dark coloured because they need to absorb heat from the surrounding environment 'aterpillars spend most of their time eating leaves using strong mandibles ()aws*. % caterpillar+s first meal, however, is its own eggshell. % few caterpillars are meat eaters, the larva of the carnivorous -arvester butterfly eats woolly aphids
Butterflies do not have any chewing mouth parts. !hey are gifted with a tubular straw like appendage known as proboscis which enables them to sip nectar. Butterflies .smell. with their antennae and taste with their feet
Butterflies are one of the few creatures on earth that can orient themselves both in latitude and longitude &ale butterflies attract females by releasing pheromone chemicals (scent* from their abdomen Butterflies and moths are picky in choosing leaves for egg laying Butterflies and moths are picky in choosing leaves for their diet
/hen folded, a butterfly+s wings are usually much less colourful, providing instant camouflage from would be predators !he earliest butterfly fossils are from the early 'retaceous period, about 01# million years ago. !heir development is closely linked to the evolution of flowering plants (angiosperms*
Butterflies are the only insects that have scales .Butterfly scales contain pigment, which in combination with light refraction gives butterflies their colors &oth species outnumber butterfly species by 02 to 0
Butterfly Migration:
Butterfly migration is indeed a amazing and uni3ue phenomenon. 4esident species travel short distances to avoid adverse conditions. &any species of butterflies migrate thousands of miles,
especially the &onarch species. !he annual migration of the monarch butterflies between &exico and the 5 6 % and 'anada covering a trip of $### miles is indeed a great wonder of the natural world. !o date biologists are yet to solve the mystery pertaining to migration. Birds orient themselves with the help of stars, landmarks and the influence of the earth+s magnetic field. -owever, butterflies with their rudimentary evolution traverse thousands of miles, is something difficult to comprehend.
Butterfly Smuggling:
% global network of poachers and smugglers are wiping out threatened species of butterflies. 6mugglers entice the locals and school children by paying them rupees fifty for every butterfly they catch. !hey are then killed, dried and used in greeting cards, wall plate hangings and for other ornamental and decorative purposes. In the international market some species of butterflies like the bird wing butterfly found on the !iger hill of 7ammu and 8ashmir is sold at 9":##. !he yellow colour in the wings of some species is permanent and is used in gold ornaments. !he most endangered species are the giant swallowtail Papilio homerus, whose
velvety black and gold wings are highly prized as decorative agents. In spite of butterflies being protected by international and national laws, butterfly smuggling is rampant in India, especially from the /estern ;hats. <ack of expertise in the identification of butterflies (Endeared, rare, threatened species* helps smugglers get away. 6uch lacuna in the system needs to be corrected with immediate effect. Believe it or not, trade in endangered species (including wildlife* is worth an estimated 0: billion dollars a year.
Payal and =ihal with the help of posters and miniatures are creating a awareness programmee in and around the coffee zones, educating the local farmers to resist the temptation of butterfly smuggling. Parents can play an important role in inspiring their children to be guardians of nature.
Why the Butterflies Love Sunglight and are Coloured?
Butterflies are cold blooded insects. In simple terms they do not generate enough heat from their own metabolic activities to provide them with the heat and energy needed to fly. !hey rely on the heat absorbed from the sun. It is for this very reason that they often bask in the
sun with wings outstretched. Butterflies can only fly if their body temperature is above >2 degrees ?ahrenheit.
Relationship
et!een Butterflies and Ants:
It is a fact that ants love to eat caterpillars. -owever the caterpillars of the Blue butterflies have evolved a symbiotic relationship that is mutually beneficial. &ost blue butterfly catterpillrs have glands on the 00th and 0"th segments which secrete a sugary solution, like honey dew. !he ants harvest the honey dew from the caterpillar and in return protect them from other predators. !his co evolution has resulted in butterflies laying eggs, in places where ants are in abundance.
Conclusion:
!he /estern ;hats, one of the hotspots of biodiversity is uni3ue and should be better protected and managed. !here is mounting concern regarding the devastating losses to butterfly colonies because of unprecedented habitat destruction. !his is the single greatest threat to butterflies. !he rate of deforestation is accelerating and is already higher than the average compared to other parts of India. ?rom egg to adult, butterflies undergo a metamorphosis that is complex and often beset with problems like weather, predators, lack of food and human encroachment on habitat.
<et us begin with the smallest steps by planting flowering plants in our backyards and help native butterflies survive. In schools we need to encourage gardening and so also in public places with green all round. 6chools and colleges should conduct training programmes and guided fiels trips, so that students learn firsthand the wild behavior of these beautiful winged )ewels. 6chool children from the primary level should be taught about butterflies and the vital role they play in different aspects of human life. %wareness at all levels will definitely help these winged )ewels survive and coexist in a world dominated by humans.
