The Butterfly (And Moth) Effect: The Silent Superheroes Of Nature

Back in 1972, Edward Lorenz presented a speech entitled Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly¡¯s Wings in Brazil set off a Tornado in Texas? It is meant to explain how small and seemingly insignificant changes can sometimes lead to much bigger changes. The theory gained popularity and thus came to be known as the Butterfly Effect. Disclaimer: No butterflies were harmed in the making of this theory.

Common-Jezebel by Abhishek-Gulshan

The unusual analogy is not unusual if we see it from an environmental point of view. To get a proper understanding of this analogy, we will look into the lives of the winged beauties we often ignore - the butterflies and moths.

Ciliate Blue by Precious Kamei

Not a lepidopterist by any measure, but as someone with a healthy interest in butterflies and moths, I reached Ramnagar in Uttarakhand in search of butterflies. I was told that Uttarakhand is a haven for butterfly and moth watchers. A calculated move (I must say), I picked Aahana the Wilderness Resort for my butterfly watching because from my past visits to the resort, I noticed that the resort grounds are not always well-manicured. And for a good reason. The seemingly overgrown grounds were perfect for butterflies and moths. And birds.

Did you know that butterflies and moths are an indicator of a healthy environment and ecosystem?

Common Quaker by Abhishek Gulshan

Yes, these winged beauties help figure out climate change, the pollution level of that particular place, they are excellent diurnal pollinators (moths are nocturnal pollinators), and they teach a lot about the native flora. Apart from the fact that butterflies are sensitive to climate change and depend on a clean environment for their survival, their role as pollinators puts them on the top of the list of important species to protect and nurture. Nectar from flowers provides butterflies with the essential carbohydrate and amino acids for their survival. In return, the butterflies pollinate the plants. These fluttering beings visit flowers, transfer pollen, and thus play an active role in pollination.

This pollination, also known as psychophily, results in the production of seeds, meaning more plants in the future. No wonder butterflies are also called the first botanists. Butterflies take the daytime shift while the moths get active by night. Night pollinators that they are, moths are generally responsible for nighttime flowering plants. It's the fragrance and light colour that draws them in. So where did the phrase like a moth to a flame come from, one may ask? Moths are predominantly nocturnal beings. They instinctively depend on the natural source of light, that is, the moon, for their navigation. This dependence on the moon for navigation is also called transverse orientation. We have plenty of streetlights and other man-made light sources to confuse them.

Common Crow caterpillar by Precious Kamei

India is home to about 1500 species of butterflies and about 12,000 species of moths. The moth biodiversity assessment conducted in 2011 and 2019 at Tale Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh led to the discovery of 17 new species of moths. It brings us to more than 200 species of moths yet to be identified. So many species of butterflies and moths, one wonders what they eat! And you are thinking Nectar! True, but add to that mud, bird droppings, sweat and urine of other animals, and wet decomposing organic matter. How else will they get the essential nutrients? It's mostly the males you will find hanging around these food sources, who then gather these precious minerals and pass them on to the females. Things they do for healthier eggs. Disclaimer: Any resemblance to certain bipeds, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Cream Wave moth by Precious Kamei

Speaking of food, another fun fact with these butterflies is that they taste with their feet. It's not what you think! A butterfly has taste sensors on its feet, so when it sits on leaves and flowers, it's also checking whether its caterpillar can feed on them or not. Which now brings us to host plants. I¡¯ve mentioned earlier how I picked Aahana Wilderness Resort for my tryst with butterflies and moths. Along with uncut grass and trees all over, Aahana maintains an organic garden and is home to hundreds of plant species. Nature educator Abhishek Gulshan (founder of NINOX-OWL About Nature, Delhi) and Ashir Kumar (macro photographer) were there too to help me hover over plants, take gentle peeks under leaves and test the power of the eye (and sometimes peripheral vision) trying to locate an egg the size of a ball-point pen. Sometimes smaller.

Common Four ring by Ashir Kumar

The life cycle of a butterfly begins with an egg, which grows into a larva (we lovingly call them caterpillars), chrysalis (pupa stage), and finally, an adult. Imagine the joy of finding a tiny dot of an egg on one of the leaves of a curry patta plant. For those who just got motivated to nurture and raise a butterfly, curry patta is a host plant for the Common Mormon butterfly. Go get one.

Common Mormon eggs on curry patta leaves by Abhishek Gulshan

One can¡¯t help but explore the world of flora when we speak of butterflies and moths. Most importantly, they help us identify and care for the native plants. Just like backyard birding, butterfly watching also can be done in your backyard, in your outdoor garden space, and balcony garden. All one has to do is bring in some butterfly-friendly plants (with flowers) or be just a little bit more observant on your daily stroll in the park. The butterflies will come out when the sun is out, spreading their wings, taking in sunlight, and feeding on nectar from one flower to the next one. And maybe you will get a chance to see a butterfly taking care of its pupa!

Pupa of a Plain Tiger by Abhishek Gulshan

Moths, the overlooked nocturnal cousins of the more popular diurnal butterflies, remain least studied. But studies so far have indicated that some of the moth species are important key pollinators for some Himalayan plant species. In a way, we can say that an ecosystem is dependent on them. An increase in light pollution has sadly led to a decline in the moth population and has disrupted night pollination.

Rice Swift butterfly by Precious Kamei

When we speak of the Butterfly Effect, we can also look into the fact that butterflies support other organisms too. For example, birds and insects. The decline in the number of butterflies and moths will directly impact the number of birds and insects, which in turn will affect the ecosystem.

Common Crow by Ashir Kumar

Well, the flap of butterfly wings will not cause a tornado somewhere, but a rapid decline in the number of butterflies and moths will lead to the extinction of certain plant species that depend solely on these critters for their survival. The thought of species extinction, now that¡¯s alarming knowing that somehow everything on this planet is interdependent. We are in the middle of the sixth extinction stage. It's really up to us whether to go for a negative result of the Butterfly Effect or towards a positive one.