Have you noticed!? Not only has Casa de Campo burst into magnificent color with all kinds of vibrant colored flowers, but hundreds and hundreds of butterflies have suddenly come out to join the party!
So what’s going on? Well, while we do get the pleasure of seeing butterflies all year round here in Casa de Campo, there are a few times of the year when they just seem to be everywhere – and right now is one of these magical moments.
You see although finding out much about butterflies in the Dominican Republic has proven a bit of a challenge, I have at least discovered that the “butterfly season” is considered to be from April to November, owing to the fact that eggs laid in winter hatch in the spring and those laid in spring hatch in summer. This must mean that the butterflies flittering and fluttering all around us now were the ones laid in the Spring.
Monarch butterflies
One of the most commonly seen butterflies in Casa de Campo, and in fact the entire world is the Monarch butterfly, most famous for its incredible migration between Canada, Baja California and Mexico, a journey of more than 5,000 miles that spans the life of three generations of butterfly. In late winter/early spring, adult monarchs start the migratory cycle leaving Mexico for a more northern climate, at which point mating occurs and before they die, the females lay their eggs in northern Mexico and southern Texas. These caterpillars then hatch and develop into adult monarchs that move north to Canada, where the cycle begins again.
A Monarch butterfly in Altos de Chavón
However, although this same species of monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) can be spotted all across the Dominican Republic and Haiti, little is known about their migration pattern. Which means we do not even know if the monarch butterflies we see here migrate, and if they do, we do not know where they go. Regardless of that little mystery, they are nonetheless the one species of butterfly you are guaranteed to spot. In the last few days we’ve seen them here in Altos de Chavón enjoying the flowers of the tree in the Plaza Chavón, as well as on the beautiful bright red Jungle Geranium’s (Ixora coccinea) found in the Altos de Chavón gardens.
Butterflies in Casa
Of the more than 20,000 different butterfly species found in the world, more than 200 can be found here on the island of Hispaniola, including some 75 that are endemic. Here in Casa de Campo you can be sure to spot dozens of different species fluttering and dancing in the breeze, here are some you are most likely to see:
White Peacock
The White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae) is found in the southeastern United States, Central America, and throughout much of South America. Here in Casa de Campo we spotted her on the Teeth of the Dog golf course.
The males stake out a territory typically 15 meters in diameter that contains larval host plants (where they lay their eggs). They perch in this area and aggressively protect it from other insects and other male white peacocks.
You are most likely to spot them on or near their larval host plants, which for the White Peacock are: Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora), Water hyssop (Bacopa monieri) and Ruellia (Ruellia occidentalis).
Zebra Longwing
The Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia) is distributed across South and Central America and as far north as southern Texas and peninsular Florida; there are migrations north into other American states in the warmer months.
We’ve spotted this distinctive and very beautiful butterfly in various areas of Casa de Campo. Their unique black and white striped coloring makes them very easy to spot and identify, and is thought to meant to warn off predators.
Adults roost in groups of up to 60 individuals on a nightly basis, returning to the same roost every night. Unlike most butterflies they eat pollen as well as sip nectar, a characteristic which allows them to live up to 6 months as an adult. Their caterpillars feed off Passionflower.
Malachite
Malachite (Siproeta stelenes) is one of the most common species in Central America, adults feed on flower nectar, rotting fruit, dead animals, and bat dung. Females lay eggs on the new leaves of plants in the Acanthaceae family, especially ruellia, wild petunias, of which there are many in Casa de Campo.
Lime Swallowtail
The Lime Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus) originates from the Old World (Africa, Asia and Europe) and is an invasive species in the Caribbean and Central America.
Here, the Lime Swallowtail is considered a pest because its caterpillar attacks citrus plants, hence its common name. It is also referred to as the Butterfly of Death.
Tetrio sphinx
The Tetrio sphinx (Pseudosphinx tetrio) is an enormous brown, white and grey moth with a wingspan of up to 14cm, making it very easy to spot. Its caterpillar, the frangipani caterpillar is neon yellow with black stripes and red feet, they feed on the frangipani plant eating as much as 3 large leaves per day.
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