Keelung spreads its butterflying wings

2015-02-02

Keelung City boasts a diverse array of butterflies and has its sights firmly set on becoming a leading destination for lovers of the insect from home and abroad.

Fronting the East China Sea between Mt. Nuannuan and Hsuehshan Mountain Range, the northern Taiwan metropolis offers optimum conditions for butterflies. At least 169 kinds have been spotted to date, with further finds par for the course.

Shen Jiin-fong, former director-general of the Wild Bird Society of Keelung, said butterfly watching, or buttterflying, is taking off in the city. He works closely with the local government to promote the hobby and has helped organize an annual butterfly watching event since 2010.

“Creating a haven for the insects and butterflying in Keelung is an important goal,” Shen said. “In addition to cooperating with Keeling City Government, I promote awareness of the insects and environmental protection by giving lectures at local schools.”

According to Shen, the most frequently seen butterfly in Keelung is Satyrium formosanum. “They swarm in large numbers around Hongdan Mountain from May to June after hibernating for 300 days, he said, adding that the insect lives for just 60 days.

But the title of Keelung’s most unique butterfly, Shen said, goes to Faunis eumeus as it cannot be found anywhere else in Taiwan. “It was sighted in 1977 by a local resident and is thought to have arrived from mainland China or Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.”

Shen said given Keelung has an official bird, eagle; fish, black porgy; flower, crape myrtle; and tree, Formosan sweet gum, there is every reason to add a butterfly to the list.

“A government-run campaign should be staged to select the city’s butterfly,” he said. “Excellent first-up candidates would be the populous Colias hyale, Discophora sondaica and Pieris naganum in addition to Satyrium formosanum and Faunis eumeus.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=227001&CtNode=413)