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.jpg "Paper Kite Butterfly")
Butterflies have been revered by
mankind since before the dawn of recorded history.
They are among the most fascinating and beautiful
animals; even people who care not for insects in
general usually have an affection for these winged
wonders. They live nearly everywhere -- from gardens
and forests and mountains to acid bogs and frozen
arctic tundra. Almost 700 of the world's 10 - 20,000
species live in North America north of Mexico. The
butterflies pictured here are captive, live
butterflies. Live butterfly exhibits have become
very popular in the United States, for obvious
reasons. Children love butterflies, adults love
butterflies and museums find them easy to raise and
maintain - everybody wins. This happy circumstance
is also good for the wild butterflies - people who
used to go into the rain forest and capture live
butterflies, or plunder their eggs and chrysalises
now can be set to work on butterfly farms, thereby
sparing our wild populations, and providing much
needed jobs for many impoverished regions.
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