Cai Die Valley Introduction
Location: Situated by the Hongshui River in Liugui District, the geographical resources of this area are abundant, with the provincial highway Taiwan Route 27甲 connecting to Highway 131. The terrain is varied and the native vegetation is rich, particularly in teak and ironwood, showcasing both beautiful mountains and waters along with pastoral scenery, making it especially suitable for insect propagation. Given that teak and ironwood create an environment conducive to butterfly development, this area is often described as a paradise for butterflies to inhabit and reproduce. The variety and number of butterflies, particularly in the Caibutterfly Valley, are well-known nationally. Caibutterfly Valley, located along the Hongshui River in Liugui, is divided into 11 valleys and spans 485 hectares. In 1982, the Kaohsiung County Government announced the establishment of the "Caibutterfly Valley Scenic Area." Most of the land in the area is state-owned forestland, primarily planted with teak and ironwood; it is close to the Hongshuikeng settlement where the population is small and agriculture focuses on fruit trees and bamboo plantings. The region's state-owned forestland and abandoned farmland feature rich and diverse native vegetation, making it suitable for butterfly habitation and reproduction. The best times to observe the pale yellow butterflies are from May to July and September to October, while other species are also easily seen. Caibutterfly Valley was once famous for its diverse butterfly species, but due to habitat destruction, butterfly numbers sharply declined. Recently, due to the decline of agriculture, many farmlands have been abandoned, allowing the ecological environment to gradually return to its primitive natural state. In recent years, there have been large population explosions of pale yellow butterflies in Caibutterfly Valley, and during these occurrences, the butterflies dance beautifully in the air, creating a spectacular scene. Through Caibutterfly Valley, we can learn about the mysteries of the butterfly world, appreciate the wonders of nature, and understand the importance of ecological conservation, together striving to maintain this beautiful butterfly habitat, which is a shared asset of our planet. [Hongshui River and Hongshuikeng] The Hongshui River runs through the entire Caibutterfly Valley, with continuous waterfalls along the way, clear water, and beautiful scenery. It converges with the Laonong River near the "Hongshuikeng" settlement, where the soil near the confluence is dark red. During rainy days, the soil washes into the river, turning the water reddish-brown, hence the name "Hongshui" (Red Water) River. The mountain depressions beside the river are called "Hongshuikeng," which was once the dwelling place of the Pingpu people. The slope behind the settlement is known to be where the purple butterfly congregated in winter; due to habitat destruction, it has been a long time since purple butterflies have gathered here for wintering. [Pale Yellow Butterfly] The pale yellow butterfly is classified into two types based on appearance: the "plain" and the "silver-marked" pale yellow butterflies. During the butterfly population explosions in early summer and autumn, the initially emerging pale yellow butterflies are predominantly of the plain type, while the silver-marked type appears in the later stages. Under normal climatic conditions, the total number of plain type butterflies is usually greater than that of the marked type. Male pale yellow butterflies are often seen congregating by the stream to absorb water, while females are more commonly found flying among the treetops to lay eggs. Their larvae prefer to feed on the leaves of ironwood, cassia, and acacia, having a short life cycle and strong reproductive capacity, thus they can proliferate rapidly within a short period.
