Save the Butterflies
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According to the latest IUCN update, there are over 178,000 species of butterflies and moths in the world, 18,000 species of butterflies and 160,000 species of moths, with wingspans ranging from 1 centimeter, of the Brephidium exilis[1] to 31 centimeters of the Ornithoptera alexandrae concerning butterflies, and from 3 centimeters of Nepticulidae to 31 centimeters of Attacus atlas concerning moths[2], they are part of the Lepidoptera order! Butterflies and moths live 30 days on average, but there are also butterflies and moths that only live for two days to some that can reach up to a year[3].
We are only aware of a small proportion of the species, and new species are being frequently discovered, however many face a multitude of threats which are leading many on a path towards extinction. Habitat loss is one of the leading causes of butterfly and moth species decline. A recent study published in the journal of Biological Conservation on 2019 estimates that butterfly populations suffered a decline of 53% in the last decade[4]. In 20 years for example, the population of the Western Monarch butterfly declined by 99.9%, and during their last great migration in 2020 only about 2000 individuals were found to have taken part, representing a miniscule 0.01% of the historic size.[5]

[1] Giulio Doremi Blog: https://gdoremi.altervista.org/blog/le-ali-piu-piccole-del-mondo-lepidotteri/

[2] Giulio Doremi Blog: https://gdoremi.altervista.org/blog/dimensioni-guinness-world-record-degli-insetti-simili/

[3] North America Butterfly Association: https://www.naba.org/qanda.html

[4] Biological Conservation journal: https://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/insect-population-decline/5c7228b01d5def712e4e05dd/

[5] Xerces Society: https://xerces.org/western-monarch-call-to-action

Global Census Butterflies Map

Thanks to your help, since the launch of the Global Butterflies’ Census in January 2021, we have receive 2269 pictures of butterflies and moths’ species, from 38 countries in the World.

Butterfly Search
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Morpho peleides – Blue morpho butterfly by Rossella Sonzogni 04-01-2024 Morpho peleides, known as the blue morpho butterfly, is a tropical iridescent insect found in Mexico, Central America, North America, Paraguay and Trinidad. The …
Battus lycidasNandayure – Costa Rica by Roshan Tailor 21-12-2022 Species of papilionid present in the Neotropics especially in Central America. It has beautiful and characteristic bluish iridescent shades on a dark background …
Eantis thraso – Sickle winged skipperBosque Escondido – Costa Rica by Bill Boteler 28-11-2022 Butterfly of the Hesperiidae family, present in Central America and north-western South America, very elusive due to its dependence on the dense rainforest. It …
Marpesia chiron – Many banded daggerwingBosque Escondido – Costa Rica by Bill Boteler 28-11-2022 Long-tailed nymphalid found from Central America to northern South America. It inhabits rainforests and feeds on nectar, ripe fruit, and minerals near streams.
Junonia orithya – Blue pansyPlateaux departement – Congo by LGETA 19-07-2022 African nymphalid with many subspecies. It has a nice indigo with black undertones and colored ocelli. The larva feeds on many different plants, and the adults …
Chrysocrambus sp.Avaglio – Italy by Barbara Bianchi 05-07-2022 Moth of the Crambidae family of Palearctic origin and with a pale yellow livery with brown vertical lines. It is found in fields cultivated by Fabaceae whose ro …

Act now to save the butterflies

We should all appreciate the striking beauty and the of butterflies. And we should all act now to stop their decline. Friend of the Earth promotes products from sustainable agriculture thereby contributing directly towards butterfly conservation. And Friend of the Earth has now also launched the Global Butterfly Census, to promote education and their conservation by means of Citizen Science. Anybody can now help Friend of the Earth assess global butterflies’ populations in two simple moves: 1.   Take a close picture of the butterfly, avoiding disturbing it. 2.  Send it to the WhatsApp number +39 351 2522520 or by the email info@friendoftheearth.org with your position coordinates. Friend of the Earth will let you know the species’ name and some curiosities, and the info will be filed on an interactive map connected to our database. Thanks to your help, the information collected will aid producing internal statistics and to update existing scientific databases in the future. Furthermore, Friend of the Earth will be hosting a monthly award given to the ‘Butterflies Conservation Hero’ who will have provided the highest number of pictures, with a certificate of participation!

Anyone can contribute to the project by photographing butterflies spotted and sending photos via mail or WhatsApp

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),Italy enjoys one of the highest concentration of butterfly varieties in Europe, with about 37% of the total species on the continent, second to Turkey which unfortunately is seeing 6.3% of its species at concerning extinction risk due to intensive agricultural practices and climate change.[6]

The World Sustainability Foundation’s is committed to protecting the critical habitats of butterflies. Friend of the Earth certification standards, ensure that agricultural practices abide by evidence-based sustainable policy which permits agriculture whilst ensuring the least possible interference with local flora and fauna. 

[6] Italian butterflies IUCN Red List: http://www.iucn.it/pdf/Comitato_IUCN_Lista_Rossa_delle_farfalle_italiane_2016.pdf

OUR COLLABORATIONS

POLYXENA ASSOCIATION

The Polyxena Association[7] operates in southern Italy for the conservation of biodiversity through research, education, and sustainable tourism. In June 2016, the association opened with the Farfalia, a butterfly house 90m2 in size that hosts 27 different species of butterflies that are common and on our territory.

An attempt was made to breed and reintroduce the Zerynthia polyxena, Melanargia arge and Hipparchia sbordonii species. Unfortunately, the undertaking has not yet been made possible, since in captivity these species don’t find the same balance that exists in their own habitat. Despite this, other species such as Cleopatra gonepteryx, Pieris rapae, Papilio machaon and Pieris brassicae, have completed their entire life cycle inside the house!

COLLODI BUTTERFLY HOUSE

The Collodi Butterfly House[8] is inhabited by hundreds of tropical colorful butterflies. They enjoy the climate-controlled house that represents the exact conditions felt in the tropical rain regions of their natural habitat.  The structure offers educational courses and workshops for the little ones so that they can learn about the colorful life of this group of insects. Friend of the Earth has certified the Collodi Butterfly House as a structure capable of raising awareness on biodiversity, with a strong emphasis on animal welfare. The incentive has also proven fruitful in attracting critical awareness to the issue and bolstering the development of our Global Butterfly Census Program.

[7] Polyxena Association FB: https://www.facebook.com/apspolyxena

[8] Collodi Butterfly House: https://www.pinocchio.it/it/casa-delle-farfalle

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