A world-class ecological wonder, the "Purple Butterfly Valley," emerges in Maolin

By Liu Jiawen, reporting

Purple Butterfly Valley? Where is it? Many people hearing "Purple Butterfly Valley" would assume it’s the name of a place, but this dreamy, poetic term actually refers to an ecological phenomenon where multiple species of brush-footed butterflies gather to overwinter. Taiwan currently has over 30 known Purple Butterfly Valleys, with the Maolin Scenic Area being the most densely concentrated, featuring at least 8 sites. From December to March of the following year is when the purple crow butterflies overwinter, making it the best time for butterfly watching. To admire the romantic sight of butterflies fluttering all around, consider visiting the Maolin Scenic Area for an ecological trip during the holidays.

Taiwan is home to 13 species of brush-footed butterflies. Aside from the great Mormon butterfly found in the Hengchun area, the other 12 species can all be seen in the Maolin Scenic Area, with the purple crow butterfly being the most numerous. The scales on the wings of the purple crow butterfly refract sunlight, producing dreamy hues of light purple, vivid purple, or bright blue depending on the viewing angle. Japanese entomologists call this phenomenon "phantom color." When large numbers of purple crow butterflies take flight, they look like flowing streams of purple light—absolutely stunning. When is the best time to watch them? The answer is after the sun rises, roughly after 7 a.m., when the butterflies emerge from the valleys to bask in the sun, sip water, and seek nectar. Towards the end of the overwintering period, you may also observe courtship, chasing, and mating behaviors among the purple crows, typically until around 11 a.m., when they return to their resting places.

Taiwan’s Purple Butterfly Valleys and Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Valley are ranked among the world’s two major overwintering butterfly valleys. To protect this precious world-class ecology, the Maolin Scenic Area has developed ecological parks and butterfly-watching trails to allow the public to get close to the purple crows without damaging their habitats. Liao Xiu-yue, a guide with the Maolin National Scenic Area Administration, notes that visitors should not attempt to catch or touch the butterflies, as this can cause their wing scales to fall off, affecting their ability to fly and reducing their lifespan. Some people are also allergic to the scales. Therefore, aside from photography and observation, avoid any actions that might harm the butterflies.

The "2011–2012 Maolin Purple Butterfly Valley – Biennial Butterfly Watching Event" will be held from now until March 4 of next year. Free guided tours on the ecology of purple crow butterflies are available every Saturday and Sunday, with a daily limit of 250 participants. Visitors need to make reservations in advance via the event’s official website.

Event website: www.maolin-nsa.gov.tw/Event/2011_butterfly