The writer Nabokov once commented on himself:
"An American writer, born in Russia, who moved to Germany after studying French literature in England for 15 years.
"But that was just a small part of his fascinating life; there are many more little-known aspects of this legendary author.
An ancient and magical creature
Because of butterflies, Borges in distant Argentina recalled Zhuangzi's dream of being a butterfly countless times. In Borges' view, “Butterflies possess an elegant and fleeting quality. If life itself is a dream, then the butterfly serves as the perfect metaphor.” The life of a butterfly, though brief, is brilliant; it undergoes a unique metamorphosis and unfurls its beauty to the fullest. Perhaps this is why it has become an irreplaceable "spirit" depicted in many writers' works. Although the lifespan of a butterfly is short, they have existed on this Earth for over a hundred million years. Imagine butterflies fluttering among dinosaurs, a scene that truly existed. Today, dinosaurs are extinct, yet the grace of butterflies endures. Butterflies and moths are collectively known as Lepidoptera, an order with an ancient lineage. According to the latest scientific research, butterflies appeared in the central and western parts of North America about 110 million years ago. In contrast, scientists date the emergence of Homo habilis, human ancestors, to about 2.5 million years ago. In ancient Egyptian murals from 1350 BCE, the presence of butterflies is already evident. Even though butterflies and moths seem fragile, after the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago, they survived and spread across the globe. Fossils of butterflies and specimens preserved in amber provide important clues for scientists researching the origins and distribution of butterflies. Persephone butterfly fossil, found in the Florissant Fossil Beds of the United States. We know that spring is the season of dancing butterflies, but how do they survive the cold winter? Is it true that we won't see butterflies in winter? Most butterflies overwinter as eggs, larvae, or pupae, and a few survive as adults, so even in winter, some can be seen fluttering in the sunlight. When temperatures are extremely low, they enter a state of diapause, much like sleep, biding their time until spring to revive. The survival capabilities of butterflies exceed our imagination.
The mysterious evolution hidden behind the superpowers
Throughout their lives, butterflies undergo a complete and remarkable metamorphosis. Nowadays we know that the precursor to a butterfly is a caterpillar. However, in 17th-century Europe, people saw caterpillars and butterflies as entirely unrelated organisms. Through her passion for and meticulous observation of caterpillars, the Lepidoptera enthusiast Maria Sibylla Merian eventually uncovered the secrets of butterflies and moths. Over more than 50 years of research, she documented the eggs hatching into caterpillars, which then molted into pupae, finally emerging as some species of butterfly or moth.
Marian and her illustration of West Indian cherry branch and the Achilles Morpho butterfly.
In the history of human science, this seemingly simple discovery was monumental. Marian’s book "Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium" influenced countless scientists to come and she is often referred to as one of the earliest ecologists. Nabokov, in his "Speak, Memory," included her as one of the important figures that influenced his childhood. A collaborative effort by scientists from around the world completed the phylogenetic genomic research on more than 2300 butterfly species, revealing the origins and the mystery of butterfly evolution, with the results published in Nature magazine in May 2023. Since Merian's time, scientists have discovered more secrets about the superpowers of butterflies:
- Caterpillars are “picky eaters,” feeding only on specific plants during their juvenile stage;
- Raise your arm, imitate the motion of flying—can you manage 45 flaps per second? Some moths can;
- A butterfly resting motionless on the ground should not be disturbed hastily, as it might be "mud-puddling"—absorbing minerals from the soil;
- Adult butterflies are also choosy—“each species frequents its favorite type of flower”;
- Butterflies provided key evidence for Darwin’s theory of evolution, their flight and camouflage techniques fascinate modern biologists and provide inspiration for industrial design,...
Understanding the meaning of life is inseparable from butterflies
In every butterfly museum, your attention will surely be captured by the beautiful butterfly specimens. Specimen of the Blue Morpho viewed from different angles. Yet, the value of butterflies lies far beyond their beauty. In nature, larvae feed on plants, and without them, certain plants would grow excessively, taking over the space of other species... Without butterflies to pollinate flowers, some plants would vanish; they are food for many animals including numerous bird species, reptiles, small mammals, and other insects, and without them, these species would disappear... If butterflies were to vanish from Earth, the ultimate "butterfly effect" might be the end of the world. "The Secret Lives of Butterflies" book. Due to human activity, many butterflies and moths face threats to their survival. In everyday life, we can aid them by protecting their habitats, embracing more environmentally-friendly ways of living, and resisting the purchase of rare butterfly specimens. Nabokov began researching butterflies not long after, penning the poem "Discovery":
I found it on this marvelous Earth,
Wind, grass, and lavender,
It perched on moist sand,
Almost blown away by the mountain pass's breeze.
......
I discovered it, I named it,
I'm fluent in taxonomic Latin;
Being a godfather to an insect, the first to describe,
I seek no other fame.
......
Ancient paintings, thrones, stones kissed by pilgrims,
Poems sung for a thousand years,
Are not like this butterfly’s red tag,
That wins true immortality.
