INeedCoffee INeedCoffee
 
 

Home / Agriculture /

Flying Jewels of the Western Ghats

by Dr. Anand Titus and Geeta N. Pereira

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS:

FEATURES BUTTER FLIES MOTHS
COLOUR BRIGHT COLOURS A LITTLE LESS BRIGHT THAN BUTTERFLIES
BODY SIZE SMOOTH AND SLENDER GENERALLY THICKER AND FURRY LOOKING
RESTING WINGS WINGS POINTED , ERECT & HELD TOGETHER WHILE RESTING WINGS OPEN & FOLDED BACKWARDS WHILE RESTING
ACTIVITY DAY/ NIGHT DAYTIME ( DIURNAL) NIGHT (NOCTURNAL)
FLIGHT PATTERN ELEGANT RUSTY
PUPA PUPATE AS AN UNPROTECTED CHRYSALIS HANGING FROM A BRANCH OF A TREE. PROTECTED BY A COCOON.PUPATE UNDERGROUND OR ON THE GROUND.
ANTENNAE CLUB LIKE WITH A SWOLLEN TIP FEATHERY OR POINTED

The largest moth, The Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) has a wingspan of 1 foot (30 cm). The smallest moth, the Nepticulid moth is 0.1 inch long. Destruction of its habitat is threatening this beautiful creature with extinction.

Butterflies provide aesthetic appeal and are connected with all plants and crops at all stages of their life cycle. Few are aware of the crucial role the butterfly plays in pollination of a large portion of economically important crops and flowering plants, which is second only to the honeybee. They pollinate about 75 per cent of staple crops in the world and 80 per cent of all flowering plants. The economic value of pollination is about $ 200 billion. Scientific studies have proved beyond doubt that pollinators account for 12% of the value of world wide agricultural production.

LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY

STAGE-1: MATING

STAGE:2 EGG LAYING BENEATH THE LEAF SURFACE

STAGE:3 LARVA (CATERPILLAR)

STAGE: 4 PUPA (CHRYSALIS)

ADULT BUTTERFLY

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. In fact, the basic health of our ecosystem is directly dependent on the number of butterfly species.

  • 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 sensitive to pollution and have been used as bioindicators to detect the pollution levels.

BUTTERFLY MIGRATION:

Butterfly migration is indeed an amazing and unique phenomenon. Resident species travel short distances to avoid adverse conditions. Many species of butterflies migrate thousands of miles, especially the Monarch species. The annual migration of the monarch butterflies between Mexico and the U.S.A. and Canada covering a trip of 4000 Miles is indeed a great wonder of the natural world. To date biologists have 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. However, butterflies with their rudimentary evolution traverse thousands of miles are something difficult to comprehend.

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

Tags: