Get to Know Butterflies Butterflies are part of the class of insects in the order Lepidoptera. Around 370 species of butterfly have been recorded in Taiwan. Of these, around 50 species are endemic to the island while 5 species are protected. With nearly 400 species of butterflies on this relatively small island, Taiwan is known as the kingdom of butterflies. According to the evolutionary process and phylogeny, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae, and Hesperiidae are most frequently seen butterflies in plain area in Taiwan. Papilionidae
Explore the Colorful World of
Butterflies
Species of family Papilionidae are mostly medium or large butterflies. Till now, around 31 species of this family are found in Taiwan. These butterflies are best-known due to their large size, dazzling colors, and elegant shapes. Most of the butterflies in this family appear in black. With one anal vein in the hind wing, the abdomen of the butterfly is mostly seen. Papilionidae is attracted to bright flowers (red in particular) and water. Very few butterflies in the family of Papilionidae have rear-protruding hind wings, such as the Agehana maraho, recognized as Taiwan's national butterfly.
Papilio bianor thrasymedes
Pieridae
Maolin Butterfly-viewing Map
The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Get to Know the Purple Butterfly Valley
Butterflies go through a life cycle known as complete metamorphosis. The four stages of their life cycle include- egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Every autumn, millions of purple crow butterflies overwinter in southern Taiwan. "Purple Butterfly Valley" is not a specific geographical name, but a term used by butterfly researchers to represent the biological phenomenon of butterflies overwintering in groups. However, there is a place called "Purple Butterfly Valley" people can find on the map of Taiwan. This place, located in Sandimen Township, Pingtung County, is a well-known place where groups of butterflies spend their winter before flying back north to their breeding ground during spring.
There are about 370 butterfly species in Taiwan (no including offshore islands). The life history of each butterfly species varies. For instance, the most frequently seen species of the Pieridae family, Leptosia nina niobe, has 4 days in egg stage, 12 days in larva stage, 6 days in pupa stage, and 6 days in adult stage, leading to multiple generations in one year. Therefore, they can be found all year round in ecological parks. As for the purple crow butterflies in the Purple Butterfly Valley, their life span lasts 6 to 8 months, leading to 3 to 4 generations in a year. Euploea tulliolus koxinga
Euploea eunice hobosoni
Euploea mulciber barsine
Euloea sylvester swinhoei
Species of family Pieridae are the most frequently seen butterflies in plain area in central and southern Taiwan. They are middle-sized and white- or yellow-colored butterflies which prefer opening areas with sunshine and attracts to flowers and water. Most larvae eat many dicotyledons, especially Cruciferae and Leguminosae so they are considered harmful insects to vegetables. The well-known Yellow Butterfly Valley in the southern Taiwan consists of butterflies mostly from the Pieridae family. The well-known Yellow Butterfly Valley in the southern Taiwan consists of butterflies mostly from Pieridae family.
There are two species of winter migrating butterflies in the world, the Mexican Monarch Butterflies and the Taiwanese Purple Crow Butterflies. So far, there are about 10 spots forming this ecological phenomenon in Maolin, with a total around a million butterflies gathering here. There are a number of characteristics forming the purple butterfly valley listed below. 1. It is located in the south of the Tropic of Cancer (Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Taidong). 2. It is within gorges that are located less than 500 meters above sea level. 3. It is surrounded by forests. 4. There are dry creeks nearby. 5. The mouth of the gorge faces south, southeast, or southwest.
Eurema brigitta hainana
Nymphalidae
These winter migrating butterflies form a spectacular "Purple Butterfly Valley" ecological phenomenon. There are at least six species of butterflies found in the valley, including four Euploea species and two Tirumala limniace species.
Nymphalids are usually middle or large-sized. So far, around 130 nymphalid species are found in plain areas in Taiwan. Most of the butterflies in Nymphalidae family have short front legs and bright colored. They are frequently found in wastelands or grasslands with sunshine. A few species of the Nymphalidae family are found in forests or bamboo groves and prefer fermenting fruit, dung, or tree sap. The butterflies in the Purple Butterfly Valley in southern Taiwan are mostly from Nymphalidae family.
Labels on the Wings of Purple Crow Butterflies A Canadian zoologist, Frederick Urquhart's (1912-2002) first attempt in 1937 to mark individual butterflies on their wings met with limited success. In Taiwan, purple crow butterflies are labeled with nontoxic markers to write down an identifier before they are released. People who find these labeled butterflies will be able to look up details about these butterflies from Maoin National Scenic Area Headquarter. The identifier consists of two English letters and a date. For example, if the label is marked ML1010, ML refers to Maolin while 1010 refers to the date of this label. Only professional conservation volunteers are allowed to label these purple crow butterflies to avoid causing any harm or death during the process of labeling. Taiwan has been labeling these purple crow butterflies for over a decade by a group of butterfly enthusiasts who dedicate unconditionally to the promotion of preserving purple crow butterflies. With these labels, we are able to know that the life span of purple crow butterflies lasts 6 to 8 months and their farthest trip is to Taipei.
Malaisia scandens
Ficus irisana
Ficus nervosa
Ficus virgata
Gymnema sylvestre
Ficus formosana
Cryptolepis sinensis
Ficus sarmentosa var. henryi
Trachelospermum gracilipes
Tylophora ovata
Heterostemma brownii
Dregea formosana yamazaki
butterfly species: Euploea tulliolus koxinga
butterfly species: Euploea eunice hobosoni
butterfly species: Euploea mulciber barsine
butterfly species: Ideopsis similis, Parantica aglea maghaba
Euploea tulliolus koxinga
Lycaenidae
Food Plants for Purple Crow Butterflies
Species in Lycaenidae family are small-sized butterflies with gray wings, also known as Coppers. Family Lycaenidae amounts to around 110 known species in Taiwan. The traces of these butterflies are usually seen in the wastelands with sunshine. With wings streaked with bright colors, these butterflies in the intermediate and high altitude are also called the beryl in the air. They have antennae decorated with black and white stripes and false eye spots on their hind wings.
Marsdenia tinctoria butterfly species: Parantica swinhoei
butterfly species: Euploea eunice hobosoni
butterfly species: Euploea sylvester swinhoei
butterfly species: Euploea mulciber barsine
butterfly species: Tirumala septentronis, Parantica aglea maghaba
Marsdenia formosana butterfly species: Parantica sita niphonica
butterfly species: Euploea eunice hobosoni
butterfly species: Euploea mulciber barsine
butterfly species: Euploea mulciber barsine
butterfly species: Tirumala limniace limniace
Parsonsia laevigata butterfly species: Idea leuconoe clara
Heliophorus lia matsumurae
Hesperiidae
These are middle or small-sized butterflies. Up to now, there are around 60 known species in Taiwan belonging to this family. Species of Hesperiidae are similar to those of moth, such as thick and short body, dark-colored, open-winged when resting. Therefore, they are often mistakenly regarded as moths. Each larva builds and inhabits its own shelter prior to pupation. Few species of the Hesperiidae family are harmful to crops.
Asclepias curassavica butterfly species: Danaus chrysippus, Danaus plexippus
Cynanchum formosanum butterfly species: Danaus genutia
Cerbera manghas
butterfly species: Euploea phaenareta juvia fruhstorfer
Tagiades cohaerens
Butterfly Characteristics There are 15 species butterflies in Taiwan (2 species among which are extinct). These butterflies belong to Danainae, family of Nymphalidae, with the characteristics listed below.
Overwinter in Groups
Originated from the tropical zone, purple crow butterflies migrate to southern Taiwan for the winter. Long-term exposure to the temperatures below 4 degrees can be lethal for them since the ideal temperature for them is 15 degrees. The two largest known large-scale overwinter type butterfly valleys are the monarch butterfly valleys in Mexico and the purple butterfly valleys in Taiwan.
Maolin National Scenic Area Headquarter 08-7992221 901 No. 120, Saijia Lane, Saijia Village, Sandimen Township, Pingtung County
Larval Host Plants
Death-feigning
Golden Pupa
The female purple crow butterflies prefer to lay their eggs individually on the newly-grown leaves of plants. Their larvae use these plants as a food source. For example, larvae of Euploea tulliolus koxinga only eat Malaisia scandens in the Moraceae family, larvae of Euploea eunice hobosoni eat Philippine Fig, Ficus ampela, Ficus irisana, and Ficus nervosa heyne in the Moraceae family, larvae of Euploea sylvester swinhoei eat Gymnema sylvestre in the family of Asclepiadaceae, and larvae of Euploea mulciber barsine eat all Ficus plants in the Moraceae family such as Ficus sarmentosa var. henryi and Ficus formosana , Trachelospermum gracilipes in the Apocynaceae family, and Cryptolepis sinensis in the Asclepiadaceae family. As for the extinct butterfly species, Euploea phaenareta juvia fruhstorfer and Danaus plexippus, their larvae feed on Cerbera manghas and Asclepias curassavica respectively.
Purple crow butterflies feign death when they detect a predator. Since many animals and insects only seek live prey, the purple crow butterflies deceive their predators by remaining a death-feigning posture. This death-feigning nature benefits conservation researchers to label these butterflies with little interference.
The pupal color varies according to butterfly species. For example, the pupal color is shiny golden for the purple crow butterflies, silver or green for Euploea tulliolus koxinga, mirror-like golden or green for Euploea eunice hobosoni, pearly golden luster for Euploea sylvester swinhoei, orange for Euploea mulciber barsine, and shiny gold for Idea leuconoe clara. The purple crow butterflies usually pupate under the tree leaves or on small branches. The golden color from the pupa under the sun scares of potential predators.
Nectar Plants for Purple Crow Butterflies
Ehretia resinosa
Duranta repens
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Premna serratifolia
Wendlandia uvariifolia
Schefflera octophylla
Premna serratifolia Linn
Eupatorium clematideum
Sambucus formosana
Chromolaena odorata
Mangifera indica
Litsea hypophaea
Tournefortia sarmentosa
Leea guineensis
Pisonia aculeata
http://www.maolin-nsa.gov.tw Saijia Visitor Center 08-7992221 Baolai Visitor Center 07-6881001 Maolin Visitor Center 07-6801525 Majia Visitor Center 08-7991663 Purple Crow Butterfly 3D Exhibition Hall 07-6801681 Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau 07-7995678 Maolin District Office, Kaohsiung City 07-6801045
Butterfly-watching Reminders Butterfly-watching Equipment: Binoculars, illustrated handbooks of butterflies, a magnifying glass, a camera, observation boxes, a notebook, a hat, comfortable shoes, and a backpack.
Butterfly-watching Rules: 1.With the exception of teaching or academic purposes, do not capture or collect any butterflies. 2.If you do not have a permit, do not trespass into the Black Crow butterflies overwintering area in the valley (some parts are privately owned). 3.Follow your guide's instructions when making photos or shooting videos. 4.Keep the environment clean. Do not liter and do not throw objects to startle the
Poisonous
Structural Coloration
Larvae of the purple crow butterflies feed on plants of the families Moraceae, Asclepiadaceae, and Apocynaceae. The sap of these plants contains toxic alkaloids, called CGs (Cardiac glycosides), which is stored inside the larvae' bodies, making them dangerous to swallow for their predators.
Colors on the purple crow butterfly's wings come from two sources- ordinary color from normal chemical pigments and structural color from the specific structure of the butterflies' wings. The latter shift and appear intense while catching the sunlight at different angles, known as structural coloration. Structural colors are created by an optical effect, such as interference, refraction, or diffraction rather than by a pigment. They arise from the arrangement of physical structures interacting with light to produce a particular color.
Warning Coloration Larvae of the purple crow butterflies are omnivorous insects which feed on plants of the families Asclepiadaceae, Apocynaceae, and Moraceae. The sap of these plants contains toxic alkaloids, called CGs (Cardiac glycosides), which is stored inside the larvae' bodies, transforming to bright colors as warnings to predators of their toxicity.
Hair-pencils Male purple crow butterflies, like most other butterflies in Papilionidae, Coppers, and Hesperiidae families, have scent scales on the wings. These scent scales are called androconia and produce pheromones to attract females. Male butterflies in the family of Danainae have hair-pencils which have the same function as the scent scales. Butterflies in the Purple Butterfly Valley use scent from the hair-pencils for aggregation and courtship behaviors. They also ward off predators with the strong odor of danaidone emitted from hair-pencils.
butterflies. 5.When driving or riding around Purple Butterfly Valley, please proceed slowly.
Live Website for Butterfly-watching
http://goo.gl/CiW4Ls
All rights reserved: Maolin National Scenic Area Headquarter Text and photographs: Liao Jin-shan Illustrations: Lian Wei-zhi Specimen pictures: Su Jin-ping Published by Maolin Purple Butterfly Ecological Conservation Association, Kaohsiung City
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