Colorful Butterfly Valley Introduction
Location: Situated beside the Hongshui River in Liugui District, the area is rich in geographical resources, divided into 11 valley districts with diverse terrain and abundant native vegetation, predominantly teak and ironwood. The area boasts both mountainous beauty and agricultural landscapes, making it suitable for insect breeding. Because teak and ironwood create an environment conducive to butterfly growth, it can be considered a paradise for butterfly habitation and reproduction. The variety and quantity of butterflies here are particularly renowned in the Rainbow Butterfly Valley. The Rainbow Butterfly Valley is located along the Hongshui River in Liugui, covering a total area of 485 hectares, and was designated as a "Rainbow Butterfly Valley Scenic Area" by the Kaohsiung County Government in 1982. Most of the land in this area is state-owned forest land, primarily planted with teak and ironwood; nearby is the Hongshuikeng settlement which has a small population engaged mainly in fruit tree and bamboo cultivation. The state-owned forest land and abandoned farmland in this area are rich and diverse in native vegetation, suitable for butterfly habitation and reproduction. The best times to observe the pale yellow butterflies are from May to July and September to October when other butterfly species are also easily spotted. The Rainbow Butterfly Valley was once well-known for its abundant butterfly species; however, due to habitat destruction, butterfly numbers have sharply declined. Recently, due to agricultural decline, many farmlands have been abandoned, allowing the ecological environment to gradually return to a more primitive natural state. In recent years, there have been frequent mass occurrences of pale yellow butterflies, and during these times, they dance beautifully and spectacularly in the air. Let's explore the mysteries of the butterfly world through the Rainbow Butterfly Valley and appreciate the wonders of nature while understanding the importance of ecological conservation, and jointly strive to protect this beautiful butterfly home, a shared asset of our planet. [Hongshui River and Hongshuikeng] The Hongshui River runs through the entire Rainbow Butterfly Valley, with continuous waterfalls along the way, clear waters, and beautiful scenery, merging with the Laonong River near the Hongshuikeng settlement. The soil at the confluence is dark red, and on rainy days, the soil washes into the river, giving the water a reddish color, hence the name "Hongshui" River. The nearby mountain depression is known as "Hongshuikeng," a former residence of the Pingpu people. The hillside behind the settlement is a gathering place for purple butterfly congregations in winter, which have become rare due to habitat destruction over the years. [Pale Yellow Butterflies] Although they can be distinguished as "plain" and "silver-striped" pale yellow butterflies based on appearance, during the major outbreaks in early summer and autumn, the initial individuals that appear are the plain type, while the silver-striped type emerges in the later phase. Under normal climatic conditions, the total number of plain types is generally higher than that of the striped types. Male pale yellow butterflies are often seen congregating by the stream to sip water, while females are more commonly observed fluttering among the treetops laying eggs. Their larvae prefer to feed on the leaves of ironwood, cassia, and mimosa. The life cycle is short and their reproductive capacity is strong, allowing them to reproduce massive populations in a short time.
