The Dangerous World of Butterflies

The Dangerous World of Butterflies: The Startling Subculture of Criminals, Collectors, and Conservationists by Peter Laufer, Ph. D. examines in detail the worldwide trade in exotic butterflies, which is not unlike the corresponding trade in weapons and drugs, with rampant poaching and smuggling, as occurs with other exotic wildlife (coral, orchids). Gangs hunt them on expensive expeditions, and may try to hunt a species to extinction in order to make their specimens that much more valuable. The poachers are often allied with local drug lords, warlords, and arms smugglers. Wildlife defenders in national parks are typically unarmed and can’t confront the poachers (although in Tajikistan a group of butterfly poachers were confronted in a gun battle, with several killed and the others froze to death).

During his investigations, the author apparently became enamoured of butterflies, so he includes in the book a lot of other related information, including the following:

Here is the word "butterfly” in various languages: flutura, fertito, hu die, kupukupu, pinpirin, Schmetterling papallo, chou, sommerfugl, buttorfleoge, papillon, parpar, lepke, farfalla, drugelis, purpuruk, borboleta, babochka, mariposa, titli, leptir, buom buom, vlinder, skoenlapper, rama-rama, psyche

A good butterfly trap: “stir up some bananas in beer, and you’ll get both moths at night and butterflies during the day.”

Moths have more massive bodies than butterflies, in part because they typically fly at night and thus cannot take advantage of solar heating for energy. Thus they store more fat in their bodies, which therefore makes them tastier (and more nutritious) than butterflies.  Consumption of butterflies (especially caterpillar and cocoon/chrysalis forms) occurs in many cultures, including in Mexico, where Madrone butterfly nests are large and copious, and in Australia where Owlet moths gather in caves in huge masses to hibernate, heavy with fat.

The title of Butterflies Are Free (the 1972 Goldie Hawn movie) comes from a passage in Bleak House: “I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to the butterflies."

I've included this book in TYWKIWDBI's category of recommended books, but its appeal will be primarily limited to butterfly enthusiasts and those interested in environmental issues.