Seiser Alm Nature: What do our butterflies do in winter ❓
Most native butterfly species overwinter as eggs, caterpillars, or pupae 🐛Some, however, survive the winter as adult butterflies! For example, the magnificent peacock butterfly, the small tortoiseshell, and the large tortoiseshell, as well as the Polygonia c-album 🦋
They look for frost-protected winter quarters, such as tree hollows or buildings, and go into hibernation. Only the brimstone butterfly hibernates mainly outdoors. By releasing water, its body fluid concentrates and its freezing point drops. In addition, the stored glycerine acts as an antifreeze.
And then there are the migratory butterflies! 👍The red admiral and the vanessa cardui, for example, follow the example of migratory birds and move to warmer climes. But this only happens once! Each generation of butterflies migrates only once - either south or north. 🦋🐛
Speaking of butterflies! In the Schlern-Rosengarten/Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park Visitor Center in Seis am Schlern/Siusi allo Sciliar, the special exhibition "Bye, bye Butterfly" can be visited from 12th of December 2022.🔝🔜