When I think about how butterflies use their environment to survive, two things come to mind right away. The first is the owl butterfly, whose wings have giant eyepots on them, resembling the face of an owl. Owls are the predators of animals like frogs and bats, which in turn are the predators of butterflies. So, by making themselves look like a bigger forest predator, Owl butterflies avoid becoming snacks. The second thing I think about is the concept of "host plants". Butterfly species will eat from and lay eggs only on specific plants. One of the host plants for owl butterflies is the Heliconias plant, so owl butterflies have a natural home in Ecuador.
Many butterfly species worldwide are experiencing declining populations. Two big reasons for this are pesticide use and habitat loss. Remember, butterflies need their host plants. For example, milkweed is the only host plant of the monarch butterfly. Human expansion, pesticide use and mowing has resulted in less wild milkweed, so there are fewer monarch butterflies. However, there are steps we can take, such as having host plants in your backyard, which can greatly help your local butterfly population. Supporting mariposarios can help protect endangered species. So yes, while we should be worried about butterflies, we shouldn't lose hope!
