Walking among the butterflies: Papalotl Farm at EARTH
In the following photo essay, learn more about EARTH’s Papalotl Butterfly Farm and take a walk through nature decorated with colorful flights.
Photos and text: Laura Guatemal (’16, Ecuador)
-
- The Papalotl Butterfly Farm was created in 2003 by two Ecuadorian students as part of their professional work experience at EARTH’s forestry nursery. Papalotl means “butterfly” in the Nahuatl language, known historically as Aztec.
-
- The farm has a controlled environment and currently houses eight distinct species, though it has the capacity to hold up to 20.
-
- In addition to providing a natural and protected space, it also supplies food and water to nourish the butterflies throughout their metamorphisis.
-
- After two weeks inside their eggs, the tiny larvae hatch and begin to explore their new world and feed on tender leaves that are easy to digest.
-
- While the larvae are growing, their eating habits change. Now they can eat mature leaves that give them enough energy for the growth cycle.
-
- In this stage, the caterpillar’s goal is to eat as much as it can, and it will “molt” or shed its exoskeleton up to six times, changing its colors with each new body.
-
- Some of the larva have defense mechanisms to ward off predators. In this case, the caterpillar has spiky hairs that irritate the skin.
-
- When the caterpillar reaches its last growth cycle, it turns green, stops eating, and finds a safe place to begin the pupa stage.
-
- The caterpillar stays inside the pupa (also called a chrysallis) for around two weeks in warm climates, and much longer in colder weather.
-
- When they are ready to hatch, the pupa turns blue and shortly after, a butterfly with folded wings emerges.
-
- Immediately after hatching, the butterfly looks for sunlight to warm up their bodies and make the blood circulate through their new wings. Later, they begin to fly and feed on flowers and fruits like bananas, mangos and guavas.
-
- Inside the butterfly farm there is a small pool that contains a fermented mixture of Gatorade and beer, which helps to stimulate the mating instinct in male butterflies.
-
- Copulation for Morphos and Caigo butterflies lasts eight hours. In the case of the Heliconius species, the female copulates only once, and will then lay around 90 eggs throughout its life.
-
- Female butterflies lay their eggs on specific leaves that she knows her larvae can eat once they hatch, helping to ensure a successful legacy.
-
- There are infinte kinds of butterflies in the world of all different colores, sizes and shapes, and each one can be identified by its unique chrysallis.
-
- Now that you know more about their life cycle, keep your eyes open – what looks like a leaf or a drop of water may be actually be the beginning of a brand new butterfly ready to take flight!
