Exploring Pigeon Valley: The Common Mother-of-Pearl butterfly
The riches of Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve explained by Glenwood resident and chair of the Friends of Pigeon Valley.
This is the eighth in an ongoing series that highlights the riches of Pigeon Valley, the urban nature reserve in the heart of Glenwood. The focus of this article will be on the Common Mother-of-Pearl butterfly.
A recent alarming report on the state of insects of the world has drawn attention to the destruction of the environment that sustains us and other living things. The growing use of poisons, habitat destruction, climate change and spread of alien vegetation are leading to rapid decline in the number of insects around us.
Insects generally are seldom appealing to people; we associate them with bites rather than beauty. But they are indeed often beautiful, and the butterflies are amongst the most stunning. Despite its urban location, the butterfly list for Pigeon Valley currently stands at 89 species, some of which are uncommon and hard to find.
ALSO READ: Exploring Pigeon Valley: The African Crowned Eagle
The Common Mother-of-Pearl is one of the more showy and easy to recognise, with its green iridescent sheen. The one shown here is perching on one of its host plants, Buckweed, the Isoglossa woodii that is so widespread in Pigeon Valley. Another is Asystasia gangetica, a very common plant that we readily find in the area. Next time you think of using some poisonous chemicals in your garden, consider what we may loose in the process.
Crispin Hemson chairs the Friends of Pigeon Valley, a group that undertakes clearing of alien plants, keeps records of bird and mammal sightings and alerting management to any problems.
The Friends have a monthly walk at 7.30am on the second Saturday of each month. Email: friendsofpigeonvalley1@gmail.com.
