Colorful Butterfly Valley Introduction
Location: Situated by the banks of the Hongshui River in Liugui District, the area is rich in geographical resources, connected by Provincial Highway 27甲 and County Road 131, and is divided into 11 valleys with varied terrain and abundant native vegetation. Notably, it has the most teak and ironwood trees, offering scenic mountain and water vistas and beautiful countryside, making it an ideal environment for insect reproduction. The presence of teak and ironwood creates a habitat conducive to the growth of butterflies, thus making this place a paradise for butterfly habitation and reproduction. The diversity and numbers of butterflies in the Colorful Butterfly Valley are recognized nationwide. The Colorful Butterfly Valley, located alongside the Hongshui River in Liugui, spans 485 hectares and was designated as a "Colorful Butterfly Valley Scenic Area" by the Kaohsiung County Government in 1982. Most of the land in this area consists of state-owned forest land, primarily cultivating teak and ironwood; it is near the Hongshuikeng settlement, which has a small population engaged mainly in fruit and bamboo planting. The area is characterized by state-owned forest land and abandoned farmland, with rich and diverse native vegetation suitable for butterfly habitation and reproduction. The best time to view the pale yellow butterflies is from May to July and September to October, during which other butterfly species can also be easily observed. The Colorful Butterfly Valley was once well-known for its rich variety of butterflies; however, due to habitat destruction, butterfly numbers dramatically decreased. Recently, with the decline of agriculture and the abandonment of farmland, the ecological environment has gradually returned to its original natural state. In recent years, there have been instances of significant occurrences of pale yellow butterflies in the Colorful Butterfly Valley. During these outbreaks, the butterflies flutter gracefully, creating a spectacular and beautiful sight. Through the Colorful Butterfly Valley, we can explore the mysteries of the butterfly world, appreciate the wonders of nature, understand the importance of ecological conservation, and work together to maintain this beautiful butterfly habitat, a shared asset of the Earth. [Hongshui River and Hongshuikeng] The Hongshui River runs through the entire Colorful Butterfly Valley, with continuous waterfalls along the way, clear water, and beautiful scenery, merging with the Laonong River near the Hongshuikeng settlement. The dark red soil near the confluence of the rivers causes the water to take on a reddish-brown hue on rainy days, hence the name "Hongshui" River. The hilly area beside the river is known as "Hongshuikeng," which was once inhabited by the Pingpu people. The slope behind the settlement was a gathering place for the purple-spotted butterflies during winter; however, due to habitat destruction, purple-spotted butterflies have long been rare in this area. [Pale Yellow Butterfly] Visually, the pale yellow butterfly is categorized into two types: the "unmarked" and the "silver-marked" pale yellow butterflies. During the peak seasons of early summer and autumn, the initial individuals of the pale yellow butterflies that emerge are all unmarked, while silver-marked butterflies appear later. Under normal climatic conditions, the number of unmarked butterflies is greater than that of marked ones. Male pale yellow butterflies are often seen clustering by the river to sip water, while females are more commonly observed fluttering in the tree tops to lay eggs. Their larvae feed on leaves of ironwood, cassia, and golden shower trees and have a short life cycle with strong reproductive capacity, allowing them to rapidly multiply in large numbers within a short period.
