Close your eyes and imagine wide, green plains stretching as far as your eyes can see. The air is filled with the sweet smell of various beautiful flowers, and the delightful chirping of birds tickles your ears. Ah, what a paradise it is!

But wait, there’s something missing to make this scene truly enchanting. Suddenly, with a burst of colour, fluttering through the air, come our little friends, the butterflies! And yes, they complete this heavenly view with their vibrant colours and mesmerising hovering, they bring a sense of joy and wonder to anyone lucky enough to witness their enchanting fluttering in the air. I’m sure most of you are feeling the same excitement just thinking about watching them, aren’t you?

But did you know, my little friends, that bees and butterflies share a special bond with flowers and the yummy nectar they hold? These busy little creatures flutter around and hover over the colourful flowers, all to get a taste of that scrumptious nectar. But here’s the really cool part, both bees and butterflies have different ways of using this delightful treat!

Let’s start with our bee buddies. Bees are like nature’s little nectar collectors. When they find a flower they like, they dive right in and use their amazing tongues (like drinking straws) called proboscises to slurp up the nectar. Bees are super clever because they not only enjoy the nectar, but they also collect it to take back to their hives from where another story starts; but let’s not dig into that now.

Next come our fluttery friends, the butterflies! When butterflies visit flowers, they also hover around. But instead of collecting and storing the nectar like bees, they have a different plan. Butterflies simply sip up the nectar for an instant energy boost, or we can say a quick snack at a delicious nectar buffet (I call it buffet because they get a variety of flowers to choose from). They don’t need to save it for later like bees do for honey.

It’s fascinating how nature has different ways for these amazing creatures to use the same yummy treat! So today, we are embarking on an exciting adventure to explore the wonder and magic of butterflies!

From creepy crawlies to beautiful butterflies

Butterflies have a super cool lifecycle that undergoes a magical transformation called metamorphosis, and I am sure many of you have already read about it in school.

It starts when a butterfly lays tiny eggs on plants, from which caterpillars hatch out. Caterpillars are like hungry eating machines, literally. They can munch on leaves all day to grow bigger and stronger. During this process, they shed their skin multiple times and keep growing until they’re ready for the next phase.

In this phase, the caterpillar attaches itself to a safe spot and forms a hard case called a chrysalis or pupa. Inside this cosy little home, something extraordinary happens. It transforms into a beautiful butterfly, complete with colourful wings! This process of change is called metamorphosis.

Nature’s fairy friends

Have you ever wondered why fairies in stories and movies have beautiful wings? Those enchanting fairies you see in stories and movies often get their inspiration from these marvellous creatures. Just take a look at their wings!

Butterflies come in all sorts of breathtaking colours and patterns that can make your imagination go wild. Some have vibrant blues, others have sunny yellows and some even have striking reds and oranges.

But here’s the secret to their radiant wings: they are covered in tiny, delicate scales with amazing pigments. When sunlight touches their wings, it bounces off these scales and the majestic colours come to life.

These tiny gardeners

Butterflies are not just pretty to look at; they play an important role in nature, too. When they visit flowers to sip nectar, they also pick up pollen on their legs and bodies. As they travel from flower to flower, they help pollinate plants, allowing them to produce fruits and seeds.

Isn’t that amazing that butterflies are like tiny gardeners, helping plants grow and thrive.

Why are butterflies rarely seen now?

Now let me come to my main concern. It’s true that in our concrete cities, we rarely have the pleasure of seeing butterflies gracefully fluttering around. Think back for a moment, when was the last time you spotted a butterfly? You will find yourself taking a while to remember. We must sadly accept the fact that city life often leaves little room for the natural world to flourish. People are so busy in constructing towering buildings and roads, that they forget the importance of planting trees and creating beautiful gardens that can attract these magical insects.

Here’s the catch, these little creatures, like butterflies, have specific needs in order to survive and thrive. They rely on trees, green beds and flowering plants to provide them with food, shelter and safe spots to lay their eggs. Sadly, our concrete cities often lack these essential elements, making it challenging for butterflies and other bugs to find habitat that suits them.

But that’s not all, butterflies are also incredibly sensitive to changes in temperature and weather conditions. When the climate shifts, it can disrupt their lifecycle, alter the timing of their migration and even impact the availability of their food sources. These changes make it harder for butterflies to survive and thrive in the urban environment.

However, let’s not lose hope. Each one of us has the power to make a difference. We can start by planting flowers and trees in our own houses, balconies, backyard, outside buildings or by placing potted-plants. This little effort can make a haven for butterflies and other pollinators.

Learn and educate others

The more we learn about butterflies and their importance, the more we can share that knowledge with others. So, even though butterflies might be rarely seen nowadays, we can all work together to create a world where they can thrive.

Butterflies are nature’s messenger

Did you know that butterflies are sensitive to changes in their environment? Their presence or absence can provide valuable information about the health of ecosystems.

If butterfly populations decline or disappear from an area, it may indicate habitat loss, pollution, or other environmental issues. Monitoring the butterfly population helps scientists assess the overall health of ecosystems and take necessary conservation measures.

Imagine if everyone in the city took a little step towards creating green spaces and embracing nature, we could turn our concrete jungle into a lush green city, full of colourful flowers and buzzing with life.

So, my friend, let’s join hands and work together to create a more butterfly-friendly world. Let’s be the ones who make it happen!

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 8th, 2023