Wild boar (Sus scrofa) also known as the feral pig or wild hog, belongs to the class Mammalia, order Artiodactyla, and family Suidae. Adults typically weigh between 68 - 100kgs, stand 50 - 60 centimeters tall, and measure 1 to 1.3 meters in length. With an average lifespan of 9 to 10 years, this species is naturally found across Asia, Europe, and North America.
Wild boar is a true omnivore, allowing it to survive in diverse ecosystems and shifting climates. Although the current global population is unknown, the species remains classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution and strong ability to adapt and expand into new habitats.
| Common name | Butterfly / True Butterfly |
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| Scientific name | Lepidoptera (Superorder Papilionoidea) |
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| Taxonomy
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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Families: Papilionidae, Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae, Riodinidae, Hedylidae
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| Weight / Size | Wingspan 1.2–28 cm; weight about 2 rose petals |
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| Lifespan | Average adult: ~2 weeks; total life cycle: 1 month |
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| Population | Over 18,000 species worldwide; > 1,000 recorded in Vietnam |
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| Habitat | Sunlit meadows, forest edges, riverbanks, and tropical or temperate forests rich in flowering plants |
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| Range | All continents except Antarctica |
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| Diet
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Caterpillars: leaves, host plants
Adults: nectar, fruit juice, tree sap, mineral-rich water
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| Conservation status | Most species — Least Concern. Several (e.g. Ornithoptera alexandrae, Troides aeacus) — Endangered or CITES Appendix I |
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Butterfly Size, Weight, and Appearance
Butterflies come in many sizes, and people often measure them by wingspan. Most common butterflies' wingspans are between 4 - 6cm. The largest butterfly in the world is Queen Alexandra’s birdwing. It lives in Papua New Guinea and its wingspan can reach 25 - 28cm. The smallest butterfly species is the Western pygmy blue. Its wingspan is only about 1.27cm.
Sex differences are common in butterflies, and females are often larger because they need space to carry eggs. Many caterpillars can even grow bigger than the adult form. Their length usually falls between 5-10cm, depending on the species.
Butterflies weigh about as much as 2 rose petals. Their bodies are slim and shaped for gentle, gliding flight in light wind. Stronger species have larger chest muscles, narrower wings, and firm bodies that help them fly farther and faster. Body mass also affects how well a butterfly can fly, stay warm, and maintain stamina.
All butterflies have 4 wings covered in tiny scales. These scales create patterns and colors in two ways. Pigments form colors like brown, black, and yellow. Microscopic structures reflect light to make blue, purple, and metallic shades. The head carries 2 large compound eyes, club-shaped antennae, and a long proboscis. This feeding tube stays curled when the butterfly rests and extends when it drinks nectar.
The world’s largest butterfly species is the Queen Alexandra’s birdwing.
Life Cycle of Butterflies
Butterflies go through complete metamorphosis, and the butterfly life cycle stages include 4 clear phases. Each phase dramatically transforms the animal, moving step by step from butterfly egg to adult.
- Stage 1 — Egg: The life cycle begins with a tiny egg on a host plant. Its color shifts as it nears hatching, a stage that lasts a few days to three weeks. In cold regions, eggs may pause in diapause until spring.
- Stage 2 — Larva (Caterpillar): This is the feeding and growth stage, often called the caterpillar metamorphosis phase. After hatching, the caterpillar eats its eggshell and then feeds on host plant leaves. It molts several times, usually passing through 4–5 instars. This stage lasts from about six days to five weeks, depending on the species and temperature.
- Stage 3 — Pupa (Chrysalis): When the caterpillar is fully grown, it stops feeding and attaches to a surface with silk. It sheds its skin one last time to form the chrysalis, beginning the chrysalis stage. Inside, the larval body breaks down and rebuilds into the adult. This stage lasts 1 to 4 weeks, though some species stay in it through winter.
- Stage 4 — Adult (Imago): The adult butterfly emerges with soft, crumpled wings. It hangs for one to two hours while the wings expand and harden. Most adult butterflies live only a short time, with an average lifespan of about 2 weeks.
A butterfly’s life cycle includes four distinct developmental stages.
Subspecies of Butterfly
True butterflies are winged insects in the superfamily Papilionoidea, belonging to the order Lepidoptera. Modern scientific classification, supported by recent global phylogenetic studies (including a major 2023 update), places 7 families inside Papilionoidea.
1. Hedylidae (American moth-butterflies): These are small, brown butterflies that look similar to geometrid moths. They have slender abdomens and antennae without the typical clubbed tips. They are mainly found in the American tropics.
2. Hesperiidae (Skippers): Skippers are small and fast flyers with a darting flight style. Their most distinctive feature is the hooked club at the end of their antennae.
3. Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks): Lycaenids are small and brightly colored. Many have special defenses such as a “false head” with eyespots and tiny tails that distract predators.
Lycaenidae species often form unique partnerships with ants.
4. Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies): Nymphalids appear to stand on four legs because the front pair is reduced. They include many familiar butterflies with bold colors and patterns.
5. Papilionidae (Swallowtails): Swallowtails often have tail-like extensions on their wings. Their caterpillars defend themselves with the osmeterium, a scent organ that releases a foul smell. Their pupae are held in place by a silk girdle.
Papilionidae butterflies are known for their bold tails and vivid wings.
6. Pieridae (Whites and Yellows): Pierids are usually white, yellow, or orange. Some of their caterpillars are serious agricultural pests, especially on plants in the Brassica family. Their pupae also use a silk girdle for support.
7. Riodinidae (Metalmarks): Riodinids often have metallic spots or reflective patches on their wings, creating bright patterns of orange, blue, and black. In the Old World, the genus Abisara is the largest, with species spread across Africa and the Oriental tropics to the Weber Line. Vietnam currently records 27 species of Riodinidae.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat
Butterflies occur across almost every continent, and are found in many different climates and landscapes. Diversity is highest in the tropics, where warm temperatures and rich plant life support their survival.
Geographic Distribution
The richest regions include the Neotropical zone of South America and the Indo-Malayan region of Southeast Asia. Temperate areas such as Europe and butterflies in North America have fewer species, but they still host many well-known groups like monarchs, swallowtails, and fritillaries.
Elevation also shapes distribution. Lowlands and foothills support the highest number of species, while high mountains hold fewer species but often contain many endemic butterflies.
Habitat
Butterflies depend on sunlight, warmth, and flowering plants, so their habitat types are closely linked to vegetation and open areas. They often live in meadows, sunny forest edges, and clearings where nectar is easy to find.
Moist places are also important habitat types. Many butterflies gather on riverbanks, muddy trails, or damp soil to absorb minerals. Some rare species live only in specific forests, such as evergreen lowland forests or cool cloud forests, where their host plants grow.
Monarch butterflies migrate remarkably far across North America.
Butterflies in Vietnam
Vietnam belongs to the Indo-Malayan region, a major biodiversity hotspot with more than 1,000 recorded butterfly species. The butterfly range here stretches from lowland plains to cloud forests on some of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia.
Northern Vietnam includes many Sino-Himalayan species, while the south is rich in strictly tropical butterflies. Lowland areas host the greatest number of species, but high mountains such as Hoàng Liên Sơn, Ngọc Linh, and Kon Tum contain many endemic and rare butterflies.
The most species-rich regions include the Northeast, Central Truong Son, Da Lat Plateau, and the Northwest, all known for high levels of endemism. Several common butterflies in Vietnam appear across many habitats. For example, Jamides celeno thrives in both open landscapes and forest interiors, showing the wide ecological flexibility of many groups.
Jamides celeno displays swift, delicate flights across sunlit forest edges.
Butterflies in Cat Tien National Park
Cat Tien National Park in southern Vietnam is the largest lowland tropical forest in the region. It belongs to the South Indochina biogeographic zone and has one of the richest butterfly collections in the country. Around 450 species have been recorded here, making up about 58.8% of all butterflies found in the Indo-Malayan region.
Many butterfly families live here, such as swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae), white and yellow butterflies (Pieridae), blue butterflies (Lycaenidae), leaf butterflies (Nymphalidae), skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae), and even moths (Noctuidae). The park is home to several rare and unique species. Among them are swallowtail butterflies listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book (2007), such as the Common Peacock (Papilio bianor) and the Golden Birdwing (Troides aeacus). Other beautiful species, like the Swordtail Butterfly (Graphium agamemnon), can also be seen flying along the forest paths.
A common butterfly in Cat Tien is Jamides celeno (Common Cerulean). Its caterpillars feed on the young shoots of Euodia meliaefolia in the lower forest layer.
Butterfly activity in Cat Tien changes with the weather. They appear most during the early dry season (December–January) and again in late dry season (around May). When heavy rain comes in September–October, the number of species becomes much lower.
Swallowtails in Cat Tien glide boldly along bright forest trails.
Diet and Role of Butterflies
Caterpillar Diet
Caterpillars spend almost all their time eating and growing. They feed mainly on leaves and usually depend on one or a few specific host plants. Many species eat nettles, plants in the carrot family, or common forest herbs.
A few unusual caterpillars are carnivorous. Spalgis epius eats scale insects, and some Lycaenid caterpillars feed on ant larvae. Several species are highly specialized and survive on only one plant. For example, Jamides celeno in Cat Tien feeds only on the young shoots of Euodia meliaefolia.
Caterpillars feed mainly on host plants chosen by female butterflies.
Adult Butterfly Diet
Once they become adults, butterflies stop eating solid food. Adult butterflies eat only liquids and drink through a long, flexible proboscis. Their main food source is flower nectar, especially from long-tubed blossoms and from plants such as Asteraceae, Buddleja, and many fragrant herbs.
Besides nectar sources, butterflies also drink tree sap, juices from rotting fruit, and mineral-rich moisture from wet soil, a behavior known as mud-puddling. Males puddle more often to collect sodium and other minerals. They later transfer these nutrients to females during mating, which helps improve egg survival. Some butterflies, like the Heliconius group, can digest pollen, allowing them to live much longer than most species. Others, such as the Red Admiral, prefer fallen fruit and can often be seen around orchards.
Adult butterflies rely on nectar, sap, and minerals for energy.
Ecological Role of Butterflies
Butterflies play important roles in ecosystems. As pollinators, they carry pollen between flowers, especially those with long tubes. Caterpillars serve as a key food source for birds, wasps, and spiders, while adult butterflies are prey for birds and bats.
Because they respond quickly to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate shifts, butterflies are excellent indicators of environmental health. Their feeding habits also shape plant communities, as caterpillars place selective pressure on specific host plants. Migratory species help connect distant habitats by moving pollen and genetic material across large landscapes.
Predators and Defense of the Butterfly
When we ask what eats butterflies, the answer includes birds, insects, bats, and even parasites that attack caterpillars from the inside. Birds are the most common predators of butterflies, especially for caterpillars, which are soft and rich in protein. Predatory insects such as ants, spiders, and wasps often attack eggs, larvae, and pupae.
At night, bats hunt adult butterflies and moths in flight. Parasitic wasps and flies also pose a major danger. They lay eggs on or inside caterpillars, and the parasite larvae hatch and consume the host from within.
To survive these threats, butterflies rely on diverse defense mechanisms. Many caterpillars absorb toxins from their host plants, making themselves distasteful or harmful to predators. These species usually have bright colors to advertise their unpalatability, a strategy known as aposematism.
Other butterflies protect themselves with camouflage, closing their wings to resemble leaves, bark, or dried foliage, like the famous oakleaf butterfly. Some species display large eyespots to startle predators or to draw attacks away from vital body parts. Many young caterpillars mimic bird droppings, making them hard to recognize. Adult butterflies without toxins often use fast, irregular, zigzag flight to avoid being caught by birds.
Lycaenid butterflies have a false head at the tail end, complete with fake eyes and antennae. Predators often strike this area instead of the real head, giving the butterfly a chance to escape. Some caterpillars release foul smells when disturbed, while species like the Elephant Hawk-moth inflate the front of the body to mimic a large, threatening face.
Several species also rely on ants for protection. Many Lycaenid caterpillars produce sweet secretions that attract ants. In return, the ants guard them from predators and parasitoids. In Vietnam, Jamides celeno has even been recorded living inside ant-built shelters that protect its pupae.
Behavior of Butterflies
Butterflies are daytime insects and depend on sunlight and warmth to stay active. A common form of butterfly behavior is basking, where they open their wings to absorb heat. Most species can only fly when their body temperature rises above 27°C.
More than 200 species show long-distance movement, and butterfly migration helps them escape harsh weather or find suitable host plants. Well-known migrants include the Monarch, Red Admiral, and Painted Lady. Their journeys can span thousands of kilometers. Butterflies navigate by using the sun’s position like a compass and rely on polarized light even when clouds cover the sky.
Adult butterflies are not social in the way bees or ants are. However, their caterpillars sometimes form close associations with ants. Courtship is an important part of butterfly mating rituals. Males search for females by releasing pheromones and performing aerial displays. Some species use hilltopping, where males gather on hilltops or high points and wait for females passing through.
Butterflies use many subtle signals to interact with one another, forming a complex system of butterfly communication. They communicate through pheromones, ultraviolet color patterns on their wings, and sometimes through vibrations. Caterpillars of certain species can “talk” to ants by sending vibrations through plant stems. Wing colors and patterns also help butterflies recognize mates and produce signals linked to sex and species identity.
Butterfly mating involves complex courtship flights and pheromone cues.
Reproduction of Butterflies
Butterfly reproduction begins when the male searches for a female using pheromones and short aerial courtship flights. When the female accepts, both butterflies land and align their bodies to mate. They stay connected for a few minutes to several hours. During this time, the male transfers a spermatophore, a packet containing sperm and nutrients. This extra nutrition helps the female produce stronger, healthier eggs.
After mating, the female must find the correct host plant for her caterpillars. If she chooses the wrong plant, the newly hatched larvae will starve. To avoid this, the female uses her feet to smell and taste the leaf surface before laying eggs. She may place eggs singly or in clusters, depending on the species. Most eggs are attached to the underside of leaves to avoid sunlight, heat, and predators. The glue holding each egg is extremely strong and resistant to water.
Different species show different egg-laying styles. The Peacock butterfly lays clusters of 50–100 eggs under nettle leaves. The Red Admiral places eggs one by one. The Map Butterfly lays its eggs in a tall, narrow column that is easy to recognize.
Butterflies also have light-sensitive organs near the reproductive area. These help them detect the right time to mate, usually when temperatures are warm and predators are less active. Through this combination of scent, behavior, and careful plant selection, butterflies ensure the success of the next generation.
Threats and Conservation
Butterflies are facing serious challenges worldwide, and many regions are reporting rapid declines. Global data show a drop of about 22% in butterfly numbers in the United States over the last 20 years, reflecting a major ecosystem imbalance. The threats to butterflies are complex but strongly linked to human activities.
One of the most striking examples is Queen Alexandra’s birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae), the largest butterfly in the world. It is listed in CITES Appendix I and is critically endangered. Species tied to old-growth forests have the highest conservation value. Notable Vietnamese species in the Red Data Book and CITES include Troides aeacus and Teinopalpus imperialis, both requiring strict protection.
Europe faces similar problems. In Bavaria, up to 60% of butterfly species are threatened because of landscape changes and habitat degradation. These patterns highlight a global butterfly population decline and the urgent need for action.
Threats
The greatest danger is habitat loss for butterflies. Forest clearing, intensive farming, and the removal of “weeds” in home gardens eliminate host plants that caterpillars depend on. Fragmentation caused by roads, settlements, and agriculture isolates populations, making it harder for butterflies to reproduce and increasing the risk of local extinctions.
Chemicals also pose a major threat. Pesticide effects on butterflies include the death of both larvae and adults. Even biological agents such as Bacillus thuringiensis reduce butterfly numbers when applied widely. Climate change disrupts life cycles: rising temperatures, longer dry seasons, and unusually warm autumns alter breeding times and reduce survival rates.
Light pollution harms nocturnal species. Many moths circle artificial lights until they exhaust their energy, making them easy prey the next morning. The loss of specific host plants is another key factor. Species with strict dietary needs, such as Papilio or Jamides, disappear quickly when their plants vanish.
Conservation
Current butterfly conservation efforts focus on protecting forests, maintaining host plants, and preserving plant diversity. Ecological corridors are being created to help butterflies move between habitats and maintain healthy populations. Community programs encourage people to plant nectar-rich flowers, avoid mowing during caterpillar season, and shift from collecting butterflies to observing, photographing, and rearing then releasing them.
Watching Butterflies in Cat Tien National Park
With its bright colors and hundreds of species flying freely, Cat Tien National Park is truly known as the butterfly kingdom of southern Vietnam. From early morning sunlight to the warm air after rain, butterflies fill the forest with motion and color.
Among them, the swallowtails, whites, and leaf butterflies are the most common and easiest to spot around the park center. They often show bright colors like yellow, red, blue, and black, catching the eye of every visitor.
The best time to see butterflies in Cat Tien is from late April to May, when the dry season brings clear skies and flowers in bloom. When the first rains arrive in June, you can also see fresh young butterflies emerging after metamorphosis.
Tips for visitors who want to see butterflies:
- Go in the early morning when butterflies start to warm their wings in the sun.
- Wear light clothes and avoid strong perfumes, which may scare them away.
- Bring a camera with zoom instead of getting too close to the butterflies.
- Walk slowly and quietly along forest paths near flowers and streams.
- After the first summer rains, watch for young butterflies resting on wet ground.
Visitors can watch butterflies easily along sunny trails in Cat Tien.
5 Interesting Facts of Butterfly (Lepidoptera)
- Butterflies don’t have real tongues. But they can taste with their feet. Tiny sensory cells on their legs let them taste nectar when landing on flowers.
- Antarctica is the only continent with no butterflies living there.
- A butterfly’s wings are covered with thousands of tiny scales that reflect light, creating their vivid colors.
- Though small as a finger, a caterpillar has over 1,000 muscles, helping it move fast and escape predators.
- In some species, such as Parnassius, the male leaves a scent mark or even seals the female’s genital opening to prevent her from mating again.
Reference
- Callaghan, C. J. (2009). The riodinid butterflies of Vietnam (Lepidoptera). Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society, 63(2), 61–82.
- Eastwood, R., Braby, M. F., Lohman, D. J., & King, A. (2008). New ant-lycaenid associations and biological data for some Australian butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Unpublished manuscript.
- Eastwood, R., Kitching, R. L., & Buu Manh, H. (2005). Behavioral observations on the early stages of Jamides celeno (Cramer) (Lycaenidae) at Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam: An obligate myrmecophile? Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society, 59(4), 219–222.
- Ilhamdi, M. L., Al Idrus, A., Santoso, D., & Hariyadi, I. (2023). Abundance and diversity of butterfly in the Lombok Forest Park, Indonesia. Unpublished manuscript.
- Kaminski, L. A. (2008). Host plant use and obligate myrmecophily in Hallonympha paucipuncta, an endemic butterfly of the Cerrado. Biotropica. Unpublished manuscript.
- Monastyrskii, A. L. (2007). Ecological and biogeographical characteristics of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) of Vietnam. Entomological Review, 87(1), 43–72.
- Monastyrskii, A. L., & Devyatkin, A. L. (2003). New taxa and new records of butterflies from Vietnam, 2. Atalanta, 34(1/2), 51–85.
- Pierce, N. E., & Dankowicz, E. (2022). The natural history of caterpillar–ant associations. Unpublished manuscript.
- Zhang, H., Wang, S., Zhong, F., & Liao, M. (2022). Quantitative analysis of risk factors for air embolism following CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy. Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. Unpublished manuscript.
