Butterflies are collectively referred to as insects belonging to the order Insecta, superorder Amphiesmenoptera, order Lepidoptera, and superfamily Papilionoidea.

They are often hailed as "flying flowers" and are a wonderful type of insect.

Most butterflies are medium to large-sized, with a wingspan ranging from 15 to 260 millimeters, possessing two pairs of membranous wings. Their bodies are elongated and divided into three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. The body and wings are covered with scales and hairs, forming various colorful patterns.

1. Distribution

Butterflies are distributed across major regions worldwide, with the highest diversity found in the Neotropical, Indomalayan, and Afrotropical regions. Among these, the Neotropical region, particularly concentrated in the Amazon Basin of South America, harbors a third of the world's butterfly species.

Many beautifully ornate butterflies are also abundant in countries like Brazil and Peru in South America. India hosts over 2,500 butterfly species, while Papua New Guinea boasts over 1,200 species; Africa's lowland rainforests are home to more than 4,000 stunning species of butterflies.

2. Rearing

Firstly, a breeding cage needs to be constructed. A wooden or bamboo frame measuring 2 meters in length, 1.5 meters in width, and 1.8 meters in height is made, covered with 16-18 mesh nylon or wire mesh on all sides, leaving openings for feeding and handling to prevent butterfly escape.

Butterfly adults, larvae, pupae, or eggs can be purchased from butterfly farms or collected from the wild during the warm seasons. These are then placed inside the breeding cage.

For wild-caught mated female butterflies, appropriate egg-laying substrates such as folded paper strips, grass, or cloth should be provided in the cage. During the egg-laying period, maintaining humidity by spraying water daily is crucial. After a certain period, the eggs hatch into larvae.

Most butterfly larvae feed on plant leaves, stems, and flowers. Fresh plant material can be provided by placing stems in water containers for larvae to feed on. To ensure proper larval development, it's recommended to rear 10-20 larvae per square meter, and species with cannibalistic tendencies should be reared individually. After 5-6 instars, larvae pupate.

When larvae are about to pupate, crumpled paper or grass should be provided to meet their pupation habits. Pupae can then be placed in a dark, moist soil heap for emergence as adults.

Butterfly adults require an adequate supply of food, including natural and artificial sources. Liquids such as water, honeydew, syrup, and milk are commonly used. The sugar concentration in the feeding solution ranges from 3% to 10%.

Liquid food can be provided in cups or dishes, or absorbed by absorbent cotton or gauze and placed in feeding containers. Artificial food can be made by mixing sugars, glucose, dry yeast, cabbage leaves, and preservatives in specific proportions for optimal rearing results.

3. Culture

Due to their vibrant colors, butterflies are deeply loved by people. Throughout history, many artworks featuring butterflies have been created.

In some cultures, patterns consisting of butterflies and melons represented auspiciousness, while combinations of butterflies and flowers made paintings lively and natural, with paired butterflies symbolizing love. Folk traditions have adopted these themes and continue to be passed down.

Moreover, butterfly patterns are widely seen in fabrics, embroidery, and handicrafts. Some artists even utilize the beautiful and diverse wings of butterflies to create highly valued artwork.

Under the wings of this natural marvel, we not only see the colorful life but also feel the magic of nature and the beauty of life. The existence of butterflies not only enriches our ecological environment but also inspires endless imagination and creativity in human culture. Like a vivid and colorful painting, their graceful dance is forever frozen in the gallery of nature, bringing us eternal beauty and hope.