SCHAUS’ SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY
Scientific name: Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus
Schaus’ Swallowtail Butterfly
Schaus’ Swallowtail Butterfly is one of the rarest buterrflies in the world! It is a larger butterfly, with a wingspan the length of your average ball point pen. Unlike other swallowtails with large wings, it has good manoeuvrability and can even fly backwards!
The butterflies live on the Elliot Key in the Florida keys and only lay eggs once a year. The eat guava nectar and cheese shrubs in dense ferns and tropical hardwood hammocks and is threatened by drought, pesticides sprayed for the control of mosquitoes, habitat reduction and hurricanes.
Whilst the species was listed as threatened in 1976 (threatened = might become extinct) and endangered in 1984 (endangered = highly likely it will become extinct). In 1992, Hurricane Andrew nearly wiped out the species (only 73 individual butterflies were found in a survey afterwards). By 2012, only four were found remaining in the wild. It was almost extinct!
Since then, scientists and researchers from the University of Florida, the National Park Service, the Florida Fish and the North American Butterfly Association have collected eggs on an annual basis to assist with repopulation of the species. Populations are recovering thanks to the good work of these institutions but we must all remain vigilant if the species is to survive.
See Schaus’ Swallowtail Butterfly up close!
The birth of a butterfly
Watch this short video with the sound off. What do you notice? Did anything surprise you? Notate your response in words, pictures or video blog.
Why is it endangered and what is being done?
What does their habitat look like? What does the larvae look like?
WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME: Think about something you really care about and would be devastated if it didn’t exist anymore (your dog, favourite YouTube channel, pizza…!). Notate your response in words, pictures, paintings, dance/movement or video blog.
Flying
Flick through this longer video and see the butterfly in its natural environment in full flight.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME: Take note of the clips you enjoyed the most and be ready to share them with your peers. Can these clips inspire the tempo and expressive techniques you use in your composition? If so - how?
Be inspired by the creative mind of a visual storyteller
Shaun Tan: Tales from the Inner City
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'The butterflies came at lunchtime. Not millions, billions or even trillions but a number beyond counting, beyond even the concept of counting, so that people on the street were relieved of any estimation.
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By people on the street, I mean everyone. Literally everyone. No earthquake, fire or terrorist attack could flush so many out of cars, apartments, subways, restaurants, hotels, stores, banks, hospitals, schools, parliaments and offices.
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None had ever experienced such inexplicable, joyful urgency.'
Text and image created by Shaun Tan, as they appear in the book Tales from the Inner City.
Reproduced with permission.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you look at this image?
Does it have anything to do with butterflies?
Find words, images, colours or drawings of your own to document your reaction.
The butterflies came at lunchtime.
Not millions, billions or even trillions but a number beyond counting..
...people on the street were relieved of any estimation.
The butterflies came at lunchtime. Not millions, billions or even trillions but a number beyond counting.. ...people on the street were relieved of any estimation.
By people on the street, I mean everyone.
Literally everyone. No earthquake, fire or terrorist attack could flush so many..
..flush so many out of cars, apartments, subways, restaurants, hotels, stores, banks, hospitals, hotels..
By people on the street, I mean everyone. Literally everyone. No earthquake, fire or terrorist attack could flush so many.. ..flush so many out of cars, apartments, subways, restaurants, hotels, stores, banks, hospitals, hotels..
..stores, banks, hospitals, schools, parliaments and offices.
None had ever experienced such inexplicable, joyful urgency.
..stores, banks, hospitals, schools, parliaments and offices. None had ever experienced such inexplicable, joyful urgency.
PLAY FOR THE PLANET!
This composing piece forms part of a set of three pieces featuring species endemic to Florida.
10% of all royalties earned by the composer will go to sponsoring injured sea turtles being cared for the Sea Turtle Hospital.