Butterflies make the world brighter

Not all insects are pests or pesky bugs. Some flutter from flower to flower with vivid and iridescent wings, bringing even more beauty to our floral landscapes. Insects best known for this are none other than the colorful butterflies!

This March 14, take time to appreciate their beauty and learn more about their importance to us and our environment as you celebrate National Learn about Butterflies Day.

Butterflies serve plenty of purpose in the world other than to bring color. To nature and our complex ecosystem, butterflies occupy an important role in keeping flowering plant populations healthy and blooming. They are pollinators, much like bees and bats, that are responsible for many plant species thriving in the wild. And just like how butterflies are vital to the survival of plants, plants are essential to a plethora of life in the ecosystem. They also provide sustenance to other insects and animals, adding more in their importance to a diverse environment. Here are some general and striking facts about these multifaceted flutterers:

• There are about 17,500 species of butterflies known in the world. Among the rarest is the Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing butterfly.
• Their wingspans can range from 1/2 inch to 11 inches, in which the Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing is known for reaching—being the largest known species as well.
• All butterflies were caterpillars, but not all caterpillars become butterflies. Some metamorphose into moths.
• Butterflies actually have four wings; two that make up the forewings and another pair that make up the hindwings.
• Their wings are transparent and are covered in a multitude of miniature scales. These layers of scales create an iridescent effect that are often responsible for their intense colors.
• A lot of butterflies migrate in search of warmer climates. One of the most famous migrating butterflies—the Monarch butterfly—travels an average of 2,500 miles.

If you’ve ever gone to a park or went on an outing in the wilds during the summer, there is a good chance you’ll find a butterfly or two feeding off of the wildflowers. If you’re lucky, you might stumble upon more than a couple of these bright-winged insects and discover the magical experience of a kaleidoscope of them, all fluttering around you. Hopefully with National Learn about Butterflies Day, you don’t have to venture out too far for that wondrous sight. We can use this day to raise awareness about them and even start a butterfly garden ourselves. While we’re cultivating plants and flowers, we also help provide these butterflies with food and habitat. It’ll be a good way to celebrate the day as we richen life, bringing color to the world like how butterflies do.