Fluttering Futures: Butterflies in Pollination and Climate Resilience

By Dr Irina Das Sarkar (PhD) and Mr Jayaram Sheshathri

Butterfly Walk at Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary

As part of World Wildlife Week 2024, we were invited by the Department of Forests and Wildlife, GNCTD to lead an engaging butterfly walk at the stunning Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary, on October 4th, 2024. Our goal was to spark interest in environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation by fostering a deeper understanding of nature among young participants.

Over 50 enthusiastic school students joined us on this journey of diving into the colourful world of butterflies and learning about the insect diversity. They were introduced to the ecological importance of butterflies and their role in pollination, which is vital for food security and the preservation of natural heritages. The students explored the Butterfly and Aravalli Parks, where they learned to spot, observe, and identify various butterfly species. They were introduced to common field guidebooks and encouraged to actively participate in the identification process, fostering hands-on learning and a connection with nature. These budding environmental stewards were captivated by butterfly behaviours such as mimicry, mud-puddling, and predator avoidance strategies like false eyes.

The immersive walk was not only educational, it also sparked a real connection with nature, encouraging students to develop a passion for conservation and become future advocates for wildlife protection. The success of the event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Deputy Conservators of Forests, Jabestin A. (HQ) and Vipul Pandey (South), Range Forest Officer Ramesh Yadav, and Lead Project Associate Lynette Gomes, to whom we extend our heartfelt gratitude.

Let’s delve into the topics we touched during the butterfly walk.

Pollination and Major Global Pollinators

Pollination is a critical biological process necessary for the reproduction of flowering plants, involving the transfer of pollen from the male anther to the female stigma. This process enables fertilisation, leading to seed production and the continued propagation of plant species, which is vital for maintaining ecosystems (FAO, 2024). Approximately 80% of angiosperms depend on biotic pollination, with 300,000 species of flowering plants, including numerous crops relying heavily on pollinators, contributing between $235–577 billion annually to global agriculture (FAO, 2016). Among the pollinators, bees - especially the Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) – are the undisputed champions contributing to about 34% of pollination services (Khalifa et al., 2021), with other insects such as butterflies, moths, and beetles also playing significant roles, contributing to 30% of global food production (Potts and Gore, 1995). Butterflies, one of the key players in this process, alone contribute to the pollination of over 19,000 species of flowering plants (Abrol and Abrol, 2012), favouring brightly coloured, nectar-rich flowers.

India is home to an impressive butterfly diversity, with over 1,500 species, representing 5.4% of the global diversity (Kehimkar, 2016). These species belong to six major families: Papilionidae (Swallowtails), Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies), Pieridae (Whites and Yellows), Lycaenidae (Gossamer-winged Butterflies), Hesperiidae (Skippers), and Riodinidae (Metalmarks). Beyond their ecological role, butterflies hold cultural and conservation value, with over 400 species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. In recognition of the importance of butterflies, each Indian state has a designated state butterfly to promote awareness of their importance, especially in the face of habitat loss and climate change (Kunte et al., 2024).They are not just colourful species; they play a crucial role in keeping our planet green and our plates full.

Butterflies as Climate Change Sentinels

Butterflies are not only pollinators, but are also vital bioindicators, providing critical insights on the health of the ecosystem. The global biodiversity crisis, driven by habitat loss and climate change, is placing butterflies at heightened risk due to their sensitivity to environmental fluctuations. Many butterfly species are highly specialised, relying on specific host plants for food and reproduction, which makes them particularly vulnerable to climate-induced shifts.

Disruptions in plant phenology caused by changing temperatures and precipitation patterns often result in mismatches between the timing of plant growth and butterfly life stages, reducing larval food availability and affecting survival and reproduction rates.

In response to rising temperatures, butterflies exhibit several adaptations to cope with the changing climate. For example, Pipevine swallowtail larvae (Battus philenor) alter their larvae’s color patterns to manage thermal stress, with red larvae being more common in warmer conditions and black larvae in cooler environments (Hill et al., 2021). Similarly, alpine species have adjusted their behavior by basking to maintain optimal body temperatures, while butterflies in warmer regions adopt heat-avoidance strategies such as orienting away from direct sunlight (Bonebrake et al., 2014).

Morphological adaptations also play a key role in thermoregulation. Butterflies in cooler climates often have darker wings to absorb more heat, while reduced melanism in warmer regions helps prevent overheating (Hill et al., 2021; Scriber, 2020). While these adaptations help the survive in the short-term, the rapid pace of climate change may overwhelm their capacity to cope, posing significant risks to butterfly populations.

Global Implications

The decline in butterfly populations is a microcosm of larger issue – the global insect population crisis, which can lead to profound ecological consequences. Butterflies play a crucial role in pollination, nutrient cycling, and maintaining food chains. Their loss threatens both biodiversity and human well-being, particularly as insect-pollinated crops contribute significantly to global food production. A decline in pollinators could jeopardize food security, with studies suggesting that their total loss may lead to 1.4 million additional deaths annually due to malnutrition and related diseases (John et al., 2024; van der Sluijs and Vaage, 2016).

The message is clear: we need to protect butterflies to protect ourselves. We need to prioritise conservation efforts that focus on long-term research and effective strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on butterflies. Detailed studies on butterfly ecology and behaviour are crucial for understanding how species are responding to environmental shifts, which in turn can inform conservation interventions such as habitat protection, sustainable land management, and climate mitigation. Prioritising the protection of diverse butterfly habitats, implementing climate-resilient practices, and restoring degraded ecosystems are key measures to support butterfly populations and maintain ecosystem health.

Citizen Science: A way forward

One of the most powerful tool we can utlise to protect butterflies is citizen science. By getting public actively involved in collecting and contributing scientific data, it can support in rapidly gathering biodiversity information, particularly in urban areas. This approach has broadened the scope of biodiversity research across different species, regions, and timeframes, owing to platforms like eBird and iNaturalist, as well as databases such as Butterflies of India (ifoundbutterflies.org ), which manage large-scale biodiversity data. The increasing availability of digital photography has made it even easier for citizen scientists to become a butterfly monitor and document species, contributing for valuable data on population trends, phenology, and habitat changes in response to climate change.

Butterfly research benefits significantly from public engagement, as these insects are easy to observe, identify, and photograph. Butterflies are one of the most widely observed insect groups, with millions of people involved in wildlife observation (Prudic et al., 2017). Initiatives like India’s Big Butterfly Month encourage volunteers to track butterfly sightings, offering critical insights into how these species are affected by climate shifts. These programs not only raise awareness of climate-related biodiversity loss but also promote conservation efforts. By harnessing the collective data gathered by citizen scientists, researchers can better understand the effects of climate change on butterfly populations and ecosystems, which can guide effective conservation policies and actions.

Together, we can ensure that butterflies continue to thrive, playing their critical role in pollination, ecosystem health, and as indicators of our planet’s wellbeing. Let’s make every effort count.

References (in order of in-text citation)

Plant Production and Protection Division: What is pollination management. (n.d.). https://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/scpi-home/managing-ecosystems/pollination-management/pm-what/en/ . Accessed on 06-10-2024.

FAO, 2016. Pollinators vital to our food supply under threat. Newsroom. https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/Pollinators-vital-to-our-food-supply-under-threat/en . Accessed on 06-10-2024.

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Kehimkar, I. D. (2016).?Butterflies of India: BNHS field guides. Bombay Natural History Society.

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