by P. M.
Washington State boasts a wide
variety of butterflies and moths. These two insects belong to the order
Lepidoptera, of which moths are the majority. Due to climate change and the
destruction of natural habitats taking place, many species are endangered, or
worse, gone for good. Lepidopterists around the word even noted species have
begun to migrate to places drastically outside of their normal habitat. In the Pacific Northwest, more than 99%
of the prairie land has been lost due to settlement. One of the butterflies’
singular to Washington and Oregon, the Taylor Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori), is dangerously close to becoming
extinct, but unfortunately, the state offers no protection.
Butterflies
are an important part of any ecosystem. Like bees, they primarily feed on
flower nectar, but contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t stop there. They have
also been known to eat plant sap, animal scat and urine, decomposing fruit, and
even carrion. But, as nectar is their dominant source of nutrients, it creates
the biggest impact on the environment. Butterflies unknowingly spread spores
from each plant to another, thus helping pollinate plants, increase gene flow,
and drive evolution.
Unfortunately, they aren’t always
helpful. The Cabbage butterfly, or Pieris
rapae, is one of the most common species of Lepidoptera in the world, and
odds are, if you see a little white butterfly, that’s probably it. In
Washington, it’s considered an invasive species. It is gregarious in its larvae
stage, and is known to cause damage to plants in the mustard family, and, as the
name implies, cabbage crop.
The Avanti/Madison garden helps
provide more habitat for insects (some of them, alas, do more damage than good)
which benefits itself, and hopefully, makes up for some of the territory that
has been lost to contemporary developments. Even if it is only a tiny increment
in comparison to the larger picture of the destruction of the natural
biosphere, every garden helps.
Interesting Facts about Lepidoptera:
·
There are over one million species.
·
The scientific name ‘Lepidoptera’ means ‘scaly
wing’ because butterflies and moths have rows of microscopic scales to cover
the clear membrane of the wing. Some of the scales are ‘truly’ pigmented, while
others create colour by refracting light.
·
The average lifespan of butterfly fauna is one
to two weeks, but monarchs and some other species can live up to ten months.
·
Vladimir Nabokov, author of Lolita, was a collector and distinguished lepidopterist.
Source Cited
Butterflies of Cascadia, by Robert Pyle
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