FOR months now, Wart hog had been seeing one of the members of the Wildlife & Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia taking keen interest and photographing butterflies. At first Wart hog thought that photography was just her hobby, until she revealed that she was interested in a particular species of butterflies.
Do you know that butterflies and moths make up a large group of insects known as the Order Lepidoptera. The name derives from the Greek lepido, or scale, andptera, or wings, and refers to the tiny scales that cover the wings and the rest of the body. Active during the day, butterflies live almost everywhere around the world, from Arctic tundra to tropical rain forests.
Moths are active at night. There are more than 15,000 species of butterflies. Most butterflies usually live two to three weeks, but some can live longer.  About 900 species are known from Zambia, 27 of which are endemic.
Butterflies conjure up images of sunshine, the warmth and colour of flowery meadows, and summer gardens teaming with life. Moths are one of the most diverse groups of insects on earth, ranging from spectacular Hawk-moths to small, intricately patterned Footman moths.
Sadly, four butterflies and over 60 moths became extinct during the last century. Three-quarters of butterflies are in decline and many moths are also facing an uncertain future.
Butterflies and moths have been recognised as indicators of biodiversity. Their fragility makes them quick to react to change so their struggle to survive is a serious warning about our environment.
Habitats have been destroyed on a massive scale, and now patterns of climate and weather are shifting unpredictably in response to pollution of the atmosphere but the disappearance of these beautiful creatures is more serious than just a loss of colour in the countryside.
Conserving butterflies will improve our whole environment for our natural resource and enrich the lives of people now and in the future.
Why butterflies and moths are important
There are many reasons why butterflies and moths are important, both in their own right, but also as quality of life indicators. The following are the main reasons for conserving butterflies and moths in Zambia and around the world.
Intrinsic value
•Butterflies and moths are intrinsically valuable and are worthy of conservation in their own right.
•Butterflies and moths are part of life one earth and an important component of its rich biodiversity.
•They have been around for at least 50 million years and probably first evolved some 150 million years ago.
•Butterflies and moths are a highly diverse group comprising more than  250,000 species and make up around one quarter of all named species.
•Butterflies are flagship species for conservation in general and in particular for invertebrates.
Aesthetic value
•Butterflies and moths are part of our natural heritage and have been studied for more than 300 years.
•Butterflies and moths are beautiful. Many are iconic and popular.
•People like butterflies.
•There are many references to butterflies and moths in literature, from the Bible through Shakespeare to modern day literature, and from poetry to musical lyrics.
•Butterflies are used by advertisers and illustrators world over as way of indicating that something is environmentally friendly.
•Butterflies are often portrayed as the essence of nature or as representing freedom, beauty or peace.
Educational value
•Butterflies and moths have fascinating life-cycles that are used in many countries to teach children about the natural world. The transformation from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis is one of the wonders of nature.
•Other educational aspects include the intricate wing patterns and iridescence, and as examples of insect migration.
Scientific value
•Butterflies (and moths to a lesser extent) are an extremely important group of ‘model’ organisms used, for centuries, to investigate many areas of biological research, including such diverse fields as navigation, pest control, embryology, mimicry, evolution, genetics, population dynamics and biodiversity conservation.
•The long history and popularity of butterfly study have provided a unique data resource on an insect group unmatched in geographical scale and timescale anywhere in the world. This has proved extremely important for scientific research on climate change.
Ecosystem value
•Butterflies and moths are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems.
•They indicate a wide range of other invertebrates, which comprise over two-thirds of all species.
•Areas rich in butterflies and moths are rich in other invertebrates. These collectively provide a wide range of environmental benefits, including pollination and natural pest control.
•Moths and butterflies are an important element of the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous.
•Butterflies and moths support a range of other predators and parasites, many of which are specific to individual species or groups of species.
•Butterflies have been widely used by ecologists as model organisms to study the impact of habitat loss and fragmentation and climate change.
Health value
•People enjoy seeing butterflies both around their homes and in the countryside.
•More than 20,000 people record butterflies and moths in Africa alone, involving getting outside and walking considerable distances.
Economic value
•Thousands of people travel abroad each year looking for butterflies and moths. Eco-tours bring valuable income to many European countries and developing countries around the world.
•Every butterfly and moth has developed its own suite of chemicals to deter predators and parasites, find a mate, and overcome the chemical defences of its host plant. Each of these chemicals has a potential value and could be exploited economically.  For example, powerful antibiotics have been found in the Meadow Brown, one of our commonest and most widespread species.
Therefore, when you see a butterfly, consider its values seriously! We Care!
Wildlife & Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia
P.O. Box 30255, Lusaka, Zambia.
Telefax: 260-211-251630, Cell: 0977-780770
E-mail: wecsz@coppernet.zm