Let the Butterflies Be

When I think of past summers I remember chasing butterflies. I remember catching them. I reget that now. However, no one ever taught me the consequenses of catching a butterfly. No one ever told me that it would shorten their lifespan. Not until I  volunteered in a butterfly sanctuary in Australia, April – May 2016.

One of my favorites, a Common Eggfly. Sometimes there’s something extraordinary about the ordinary.

Like fish, butterflies have scales. They need them for their color and to flap their wings. Usually they’ll shed them slowly throughout life. When you touch them you interfere, and more scales than the butterfly is supposed to lose come off – this is the powder you can feel on your fingers. The butterfly might look fine, but you stole valuable time form its life.

A butterfly at the end of her days. There’s soon to be one less butterfly to care for the ecosystem and be an indicator of biodiversity.

We shouldn’t encourage kids to catch them. We shouldn’t catch them ourselves. They have to digest themselves to change from a caterpillar to a butterfly. I think they’ve been through enough. Let the butterflies be.

Fly little one, fly. Live the month you’re supposed to.