Butterflies and their contribution in ecosystem: A review

Abstract

Butterflies play vital role in the ecosystem, there is co-evolutionary relationship between butterflies and plants, their lives are interlinked. Butterflies are also called flying flower, displaying its beauty. These insects enhance the aesthetic value of the environments by their exquisite wing colors. Butterflies are the wild indicators of the ecosystem; these insects tell us everything about the healthier ecosystem. These are effective pollinators, butterflies visit the flower to eat nectar and this is mutually beneficial relationship. Some species of butterflies migrate over long distance; carry pollen to be shared across plants which are far apart from one another. This migration of pollens induces genetic variation in plants species and give a better chance at survival against different disease. These insects also provide food for other organisms, for example; birds, reptiles amphibians and also acts as biological pest control. But the population of these insects decline rapidly due to human activities, habitat destruction, uses of pesticides and unawareness of people about the importance of flying flowers.

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2016; 4(2): 115-118
E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
JEZS 2016; 4(2): 115-118
© 2016 JEZS
Received: 22-01-2016
Accepted: 24-02-2016
Mobeen Ghazanfar
Department of Zoology,
University of Gujrat, Hafiz
Hayat Campus, Gujrat,
Pakistan.
Muhammad Faheem Malik
Department of Zoology,
University of Gujrat, Hafiz
Hayat Campus, Gujrat, Pakistan
Mubashar Hussain
Department of Zoology,
University of Gujrat, Hafiz
Hayat Campus, Gujrat,
Pakistan.
Razia Iqbal
Department of Zoology,
University of Gujrat, Hafiz
Hayat Campus, Gujrat, Pakistan
Misbah Younas
Department of Zoology,
University of Gujrat, Hafiz
Hayat Campus, Gujrat, Pakistan
Correspondence
Mobeen Ghazanfar
mobimubeen56@yahoo.com
Department of Zoology,
University of Gujrat, Hafiz
Hayat Campus, Gujrat,
Pakistan.
Butterflies and their contribution in ecosystem:
A review
Mobeen Ghazanfar, Muhammad Faheem Malik, Mubashar Hussain,
Razia Iqbal, Misbah Younas
Abstract
Butterflies play vital role in the ecosystem, there is co-evolutionary relationship between butterflies and
plants, their lives are interlinked. Butterflies are also called flying flower, displaying its beauty. These
insects enhance the aesthetic value of the environments by their exquisite wing colors. Butterflies are the
wild indicators of the ecosystem; these insects tell us everything about the healthier ecosystem. These are
effective pollinators, butterflies visit the flower to eat nectar and this is mutually beneficial relationship.
Some species of butterflies migrate over long distance; carry pollen to be shared across plants which are
far apart from one another. This migration of pollens induces genetic variation in plants species and give
a better chance at survival against different disease. These insects also provide food for other organisms,
for example; birds, reptiles amphibians and also acts as biological pest control. But the population of
these insects decline rapidly due to human activities, habitat destruction, uses of pesticides and
unawareness of people about the importance of flying flowers.
Keywords: Butterflies, ecological indicators, pollinators, flying flower, nectar eater
Introduction
The butterfly is a diverse insect, found in many colours and sizes. Worldwide, there are more
than 28,000 species of butterflies, with about 80 percent in tropical regions. Butterflies require
food in liquid form [40]. Their survival depends on nectar that is produced in flowers and also
extra-ripe fruits. The butterfly plays an important role in ecosystems, acting as a pollinator, a
food source and an indicator of the ecosystem's well being. Butterflies play a big role in
pollinating flowers that open during the day.
Butterflies tend to favor big, colorful flowers that have a landing platform and gather pollen on
their long, thin legs as they sip nectar from a flower [41]. Butterflies are sensitive to climate
change, such as pollination and habitat loss, and cause them to be more responsive. Therefore,
an abundance of butterflies usually indicates a healthier ecosystem.
Many butterfly species migrate over long distances as many as 3,000 miles. These migrations
allow for pollination across long distances and have increased human interest in the species
[42]. Butterflies contribute to ecosystem restoration because they supply pollination and a
source of food. Increased butterfly populations may indicate an increase in plant diversity and
other pollinator groups within restored areas.
Butterflies are attractive addition to flower garden and more important insect than most people
realize. As a wildlife indicator, butterflies tell us almost everything we need to know about the
health of an ecosystem Dobson, 2012 [1].
Swengel demonstrated that in ecosystem, plant and animal species live in sites with similar
combinations of soil, topography, climate and geography. Some types of vegetation must be
required for Butterfly species existence. Butterflies living in particular place have particular
habitat requirements. An interesting part of studying, localized butterflies is learning to find
out the microhabitats they require. In ecosystem natural events either favor or reduce butterfly
population’s characteristics of microhabitats occurring in that ecosystem [2].
Review of Literature
Co-Evolution of Butterflies and Plants
In plant reproductive phenology, general flowering reported from West Malaysia, it might be
expected that there is co- evolution between plants and pollinators demonstrated by Asthon et
al [3]. Ehrlich demonstrates that butterflies herbivorous organisms’ coevolved with plants [4].

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Ehrlich and Raven [5] developed model for the co-evolution of
plants and butterflies and summarized the host plant
information for the butterflies. Feeny and Gilbert described
that Co-evolution involve adaptive radiation of plants that
have evolved relative chemical protection from herbivores,
followed by adaptive radiation on these plant groups of
herbivores able to get around their defenses [6, 7]. Feltwell point
out that the lives of plants and butterflies are exceptionally
interlinked [8].
Heliconius butterflies are herbivores in simple food webs
consist of coevolved Host specific parasitoids and larval host
plants. Some butterflies pass plant poisons to the next trophic
level which has many evolutionary and ecological effects at
the food web level [9-13].
Pollination
According to Webb, Pollination is the process in which pollens
are transferred from male parts of flower to female parts of
flower and reproduce sexually even over large areas. Nectar
produced from flower contains nutritious vitamins, lipids, sugar,
amino acid etc. which is important food source for pollinators.
Butterflies are also pollinators and visit the flower to eat nectar;
tiny scales on the butterfly bodies brush against anthers and
pollen adhere to scales. Now the butterfly visit to another flower,
the pollen which attach to its scales brush in to the flower’s
stigma. These insects are attractive and interesting [14].
Baker demonstrates that nectar of many flowers, at which
adult Lepidoptera feed, contains significant concentrations of a
wide range of amino acids, which must contribute to its
nutritional value [15]. American Heliconius butterflies enrich
their nectar diet by collecting pollen grains, mixing them with
nectar in the coils of the haustellum and ingesting the amino
acids that diffuse from pollen grains [7]. Amino acids ingested
are of major significance in adult maintenance and
reproductive capacity [10]. Breeden demonstrates that the
butterfly proboscis adapted for reaching nectar at the base of
long tubed flowers. Different species vary greatly in proboscis
length. Butterflies are diurnal and some smaller skippers
(Hesperiidae), are only capable of using shallow blossoms like
Melaleuca sieberi (Myrtaceae), in which the nectar is easily
accessible [16]. Butterflies with longer proboscides can use the
long, narrowly tubular blossoms of such genera as Pimelea
(Thymelaeaceae) and Calytrixt (Myrtaceae), in which the
nectar are deeply concealed in the Calytrix flower type.
In Sarawak, Malaysia, (Momose) Butterfly pollinated flowers
are tubular and brush likes shapes. Butterfly pollinated flowers
of family Leguminosae, Verbenaceae and Rubiaceae were
odorless and orange in color when fresh, but they remained in
inflorescence, turn reddish even after pollination and this
phenomenon was common in tubular flowers like Ixora spp.,
Rubiaceae and brush flowers like Bauhinia spp. Leguminosae
[17].
Genetic Variation in Plant Species
Kearney point out that butterflies collect nectar from plant
species, which induce genetic variation in the plants. Some
butterfly species migrate over long distance and share pollens
across plants which are far away from one another. This helps
plants to recover against disease and gives them a better
chance at survival [18].
Reduce Pollution
Some species of butterfly help to reduce the air pollution.
These species decrease the carbon dioxide in the air. The host
plants of monarch butterflies and caterpillars absorb carbon
dioxide and reduce the amount of air pollution. The
caterpillars eat host plant and grow back bigger and better so,
it can absorb more carbon dioxide [19].
Ecological Indicators of Healthier Ecosystem
In 1988 Landres and Simberlof demonstrated that Indicator
species indicate the physical and chemical changes in the
environment, or the abundance of other species through
changes in their own abundance [20, 21]. These indicators are
known as ecological indicators [22] and main goal of indicators
is to measure the complex system without missing important
information [23]. In many regions of the world Lepidoptera are
accepted as the ecological indicators of the ecosystem health
[24-27]. Butterflies have clear taxonomy their biology and life
history are well defined [28, 29]. Physiological tolerances;
habitat, temperature, light requirements have been quantified
[30, 31] and correlations with changes in ecosystem conditions
have been determined by Bowman [32].
Ehrlich, 1984; Oostermeijer and van Swaay 1998 described
that Butterflies have high reproductive rates and are at low
trophic level due to this, they response quickly to
environmental stress. Many butterflies specialize on a specific
plant species for oviposition or feeding [26, 33]. Butterflies tend
to be easy to find and measure. In a particular habitat if
butterfly is endangered then the plants, insects and vertebrates
live in that habitat are also at risk. Therefore endangered
butterflies serve as barometer of natural conditions in that
habitat [34].
According to Dobson, 2012, in the last ten years 72% butterfly
and moth species have declined. Butterflies react quickly to
minor changes in the environment, providing an alarming
signal for other reductions in wildlife and making them good
indicator of biodiversity. So, they are best monitored group of
insects in the world [1]. Some butterfly species are very
sensitive to even light disturbance of natural forest. These
species of butterflies are good indicators for natural forest [19].
Provide Food for Other Organisms
Butterflies provide food for number of animals such as birds,
reptiles, amphibians etc. and caterpillars provide an occasional
meal for scorpions and ants. Eggs of some flies and wasps live
as parasites inside catterpillar’s body and feed on it. If
populations of butterfly diminish, then population of birds,
mice and other animals that rely on them as food source will
also reduce. This loss will collapse the entire ecosystem [19].
Stephen Dickie, explains: "Birds plan their whole breeding
season around when caterpillars will be most abundant. If
butterflies and caterpillar are depleted then there will be less
food for developing chicks" [1].
Predators
Some butterfly larvae feed on harmful insect for example
Hoverfly larvae are Predators of aphids [33] so, caterpillars are
also use as biological pest control.
A Flying Flower and Magic
Feltwell demonstrates that adults and larvae of butterflies are
closely associated with plants; their beautiful and delicate
wing colors enhance the aesthetic value of environment [8].
In 2013 Kumar explain that butterfly is a living flower,
displaying its beauty wherever it goes. The bright colors of
wings stand out against the blue sky and green foliage,
attracting its mates. The bright colors prevent some potential
predators by suggesting bad taste or poison. Before the start of
winter, fragile Monarch butterfly migrate up to 2, 000 miles,

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and form colonies in Mexico and part of California. When
spring arrives they head north and east, lying eggs before they
die. Though butterflies make the trip only once, they magically
know where to go. Metamorphosis is magic in nature; a
beautiful butterfly emerges fully formed from a chrysalis that
was spun from a crawling caterpillar. The butterfly begins life
as an egg that hatch in to larva or caterpillar which grows and
pupa stage chrysalis [35].
Habitat Destruction
Human activities destroy the butterfly habitats. Global climate
fluctuation also affects the butterfly habitats. Governmental
policy on forestry, farming and road planning has great effect
on the abundance and distribution of butterflies [36].
Pesticides
The distribution and abundance of butterflies decline due to
the habitat destruction [37]. The use of pesticides on arable
crops has profound harmful effects on farmland wildlife [38]
but its impact on butterflies is unknown. The use of
insecticides has little evidence for the reduction in numbers
[39]. The use of Herbicides with chemical fertilizers and
drainage reduce the butterfly number indirectly by changing
the unimproved grassland in to improved pasture. Thomas
explained that mostly butterfly rich farmland habitat is
unimproved grassland. So, herbicides reduce the butterfly
population [30].
In 1984 Rands and Sothern examined the butterfly numbers on
two plots of arable farmland in southern England. The field
edge of one plot was unsprayed with herbicides, fungicides
and insecticides while other plot field was fully sprayed.
Unsprayed and sprayed transect sections were paired up
according to adjacent field boundary habitat type. On
unsprayed plot 868 butterflies were recorded and 297 on the
sprayed plot. In survey section 17 species of butterfly were
recorded out of which 13 species of butterfly abundant on
unsprayed field. Butterfly species were less able to breed in
sprayed field. So, use of herbicides on cereal crops reduces the
butterfly number [39].
Conclusion
Butterflies maintain the ecosystem by acting as pollinator,
prey, biological pest control, induce genetic variation in plants,
and enhance environmental beauty, reduce the level of carbon
dioxide in air. But butterfly population is decline rapidly and it
is suggest that greater emphasis should be placed on
management of habitat and better integration of protected areas.
Ecologist use butterflies as model organisms to study the
impact of climate change, habitat loss.
Recommendations
Never capture a butterfly. Encourage people to leave
butterflies to fly free. We must admire their beauty. We should
aware, the other peoples about the importance of butterflies
and other insects. There should be introductory course about
the protection and conservation of ecosystem and wildlife at
school level.
A great way to help these insects survive is to eat organic
foods, avoid the use of herbicides landscaping, and cultivate
milkweed and other nectar plants in garden. These insects need
our help and we need their invaluable contributions to save
entire ecosystems.
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