Butterfly Diversity in New York & Hong Kong
I have chosen to compare and contrast the diversity of Lepidoptera (butterfly) in New York State and Hong Kong. I chose this taxonomy group as I’ve always found Lepidoptera to be quite beautiful but also biologically fascinating with how they developmental throughout their lives. I decided to compare Lepidoptera in New York State and Hong Kong as they are both regions that have large populated cities but also marsh/farmlands but are on opposite sides of the world.
Below I have listed the 5 common species of Lepidoptera in New York State & Hong Kong:
New York:
- Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral’s) – Geographic Range: Red admiral’s are found in temperate regions of North Africa, North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and island regions of Hawaii, and the Caribbean. Habitats: Mostly semi-shade forest habitats, gardens, parks and only very rarely completely open terrain Characteristics: features a black forewing with white spots at the tip, and a bank of bright red-orange on the trailing edges.[unique_solution]
- Lycaena phlaeas (Cooper Butterflies) – Geographic Range: Are Holarctic species, widespread and common across Europe, Asia, and North America. Habitats: Found in a wide variety of habitats from chalk downland, heathland,woodland clearings to churchyards and waste grounds in cities. Characteristics: coloration ranges from orange-red to brown, usually with a copper tinge and dark markings.
- Phyciodes tharos (Pearl Crescent) – Geographic Range: Found in all parts of the United States except the west coast, and throughout Mexico and part of southern Canada. Habitats: Open areas such as pastures, road edges, vacant lots, fields, open pine. Characteristics: Males usually have black antenna knobs. Its upper side is orange with black borders; postmedian and submarginal areas are crossed by fine black marks. The underside of hindwing has a dark marginal patch containing a light-colored crescent.
- Danaus plexippus (Monarch) – Geographical Range: Ranges from southern Canada through northern South America. Habitats: Requirements change during migration. Fall migration – must have access to nectar-producing plants. Spring migration – must have access to larval food plants and nectar plants. Characteristic: reddish-orange with black vein-like markings. There is a black border around its wings with white spots on it. Its wings look like stained glass windows!
- Papilio polyxenes (Black Swallowtail) – Geographical Range: Are found from southern Canada to South America. In North America they are more commonly found in east of the Rocky Mountains. Habitats: Found in open areas like fields, parks, marches or deserts, and they prefer tropical or temperate habitats. Characteristics: Upper surface of wings mostly black, hindwings black spot centered in larger orange spot. Males have yellow band near edge of wings; Females has a row of yellow spots.
Hong Kong:
- Limenitidinae reducta (Southern White Admirals) – In central and southern Europe and Western Asia. Habitat: Live in light woodlight, in woodland glades and in forest edge. Characteristics: a black butterfly with distinctive white bands on the wings and a gingery-brown underside.
- Mycalesis perseu (Dingy Bushbrown) – Geographical Range: Found in South and Southeast Asia. Habitat: Lurks in shady, but open areas in the vicinity of grassland. Characteristics: Both male and female: a pale brown color with brown circular spots on wings.
- Aporia harrietae (Bhutan Black Vein) – Geographical Range: Found in Bhutan and possibly India. Habitat: Open forest and grazing land. Characteristics: dull black above with slim, wavy, cream-coloured striations running vertically across the wings
- Genus Pieris (Garden Whites) – Geographical Range: Natural range across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Some reports of traveling to the America’s. Habitat: Can be found in any open area with diverse plant association. Can be seen usually in towns, but also in natural habitats, mostly in valley bottoms. Characteristics: Males have 1 black spot on the center of each forewing, while females have 2 spots in the same place. The color under the forewings may be yellow or light green and is visible if the wings are raised.
- Aglais urticae (Small Tortoiseshell) – Geographical Range: Found throughout China, Nepal, Central Asia, Asia Minor. Habitats: Warm open moist areas and nectar producing plants. Characteristics: it is a medium-sized butterfly that is mainly reddi orange, with black and yellow markings on the forewings as well as a ring of blue spots around the edge of the wings.
Butterfly diversity is known to be particularly high in mountain regions. Elevation levels vary due to temperature, moisture, and vegetation each species need. Lepidoptera in Hong Kong tend to be distributed in higher elevations than New York State due to higher mountain ranges and diversity in temperatures. This could be why the diversification is so board for these species as environmental changes are highly sensitive to Lepidoptera compared to birds and plants in regions with high human populations. Human effects on butterfly diversity can be negative through human population and urbanization. However, in areas where traditional agriculture maintain like pastures or croplands the species can be seen flourishing.
This assignment has helped me see how broad the classification of Lepidoptera is amongst the world. I feel like when you are in one environment for a long period of time you forget that in different parts of the world that the environment is so different due to culture but also environment. It was interesting to see how this species have adapted in these two different parts of the world.