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Butterfly Facts Aside from their beauty, butterflies that are released will enter the natural kingdom and, after finding suitable habitat, will increase the numbers of their species. Even though the butterflies have been raised in protected conditions, they are not domesticated. They are as wild as their counterparts that exist in the release area. The life cycles of butterflies provide an important source of nutrition for many other creatures. With limited ways of protecting themselves during all of the metamorphosis phases, butterflies are food for birds, amphibians and mammals. In nature, only 1 of 10 caterpillars survives to become a butterfly. This is a vital part of the natural food chain. Butterflies are also important pollinators. Many native flowers are not pollinated by bees but instead are fed upon by butterflies, which with their long proboscis can reach deep into the flower blossom in order for pollination to take place. These plants depend upon butterflies to continue to flourish and butterflies depend upon these plants for nectar. As the insects feed and then move in wide ranges (even migrating for some species) the pollen is carried so that cross-pollination can occur. This important activity provides genetic diversity in plant species and can only be performed by butterflies. Today the beautiful Monarch and Painted Lady butterfly populations are not considered endangered nor threatened. Monarchs perform a yearly migration that is considered an 'Endangered Natural Phenomenon'. This term is defined as a spectacular aspect of the life history of an animal or plant species involving a large number of individuals that is threatened with impoverishment of demise; the species per se need not be in peril, rather the phenomenon it exhibits is at stake (according to Migratory Pollinators Program). Releasing butterflies is a proactive effort to insure this migration continues by adding numbers of these butterflies to the breeding population in order to maintain the very large numbers necessary to sustain their migrations. The goals of butterfly releases are twofold: to assist in the existence of butterflies in the world and to enjoy the beauty of the flight of these harmless fluttering insects. Butterflies provide much to the world through their short purposeful lives. Releases provide the opportunity to promote these creatures. |
