Butterfly Valley Introduction
Location: Situated alongside the Hongshui Creek in Liouguei District, Provincial Highway 27甲 connects to the local Highway 131. The geographical resources of this area are abundant, divided into 11 valleys, with varied topography and rich native vegetation, predominantly consisting of teak and ironwood. The area boasts beautiful mountain and water scenery alongside pastoral landscapes, making it particularly suitable for insect reproduction. The presence of teak and ironwood creates an ideal environment for the growth of butterflies, thus making this place a paradise for butterfly habitation and breeding. The variety and quantity of butterflies is particularly renowned in the Butterfly Valley. The Butterfly Valley is located by the Hongshui Creek in Liouguei and covers an area of 485 hectares divided into 11 valleys. In 1982, the Kaohsiung County Government designated it as a "Butterfly Valley Scenic Area." The majority of the land in the area is state-owned forest land, mainly planted with teak and ironwood. Nearby is the Hongshuikeng settlement, with a small population engaged mainly in fruit tree and bamboo cultivation. The state-owned forest land and abandoned farmland in the area possess rich and diverse native vegetation, suitable for the habitation and breeding of butterflies. The best times to observe the pale yellow butterflies are from May to July and September to October, while other butterfly species are also easily spotted. The Butterfly Valley was once well-known for its variety of butterflies, but due to habitat destruction, the butterfly population sharply declined. Recently, due to the decline in agriculture and many farmlands left abandoned, the ecological environment has gradually returned to its natural state. In recent years, there have been occurrences of large outbreaks of pale yellow butterflies in the Butterfly Valley, during which butterflies dance through the air, creating a spectacular and beautiful scene. Let us explore the mysteries of the butterfly world through the Butterfly Valley, appreciate the wonders of nature’s creations, and understand the importance of ecological conservation, as we work together to maintain this beautiful butterfly habitat, a shared asset of the Earth. [Hongshui Creek and Hongshuikeng] The Hongshui Creek runs through the entire Butterfly Valley, with continuous waterfalls along the way. The water is clear, and the scenery is picturesque, merging with the Laonong Creek near the Hongshuikeng settlement. The soil at the confluence is dark red, and during rainy days, the washed soil turns the creek's water a reddish-brown, giving rise to the name "Hongshui" Creek. The mountain hollow beside the creek is called "Hongshuikeng," which was once a dwelling place for the Pingpu people. The hillside behind the settlement is a gathering spot for purple-spotted butterflies in winter, but due to habitat destruction, purple-spotted butterflies have rarely been seen congregating here in recent years. [Pale yellow butterfly] Although they are categorized into "patternless type" and "silver-pattern type" based on appearance, the pale yellow butterfly has two forms. During the outbreaks in early summer and autumn, the individuals of the initial outbreaks are all of the patternless type, while the silver-pattern type appears later. Under normal climate conditions, the total number of patternless types is greater than the patterned types. Male pale yellow butterflies are often seen gathering to drink water by the creek, while females are more commonly found fluttering among the treetops to lay eggs. Their larvae prefer to feed on leaves of ironwood, cassia, and showy rattlebush. With a short life cycle and strong reproductive capability, they can easily reproduce large populations in a short period.
