Species Spotlight
The Butterflies of Mt . Mabu
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While it was well known locally , it wasn ’ t until 2005 that Julian Bayliss , a conservation scientist , found an undisturbed rainforest within the cratered mountain top of Mozambique ’ s Mt . Mabu using Google Earth . A treasure trove of butterflies — and many other new-toscience species — were found living here in this hidden forest .
Rising 5,500 feet into the sky , sacred Mabu Forest is also known as the butterfly forest . Groups of butterflies , called a kaleidoscope , follow rivers upstream every October and November to the summit of Mt . Mabu , where their life-affirming courtship rituals take place . At least six endemic butterfly species , as well as an estimated 250 more butterfly species , take part in this rare phenomenon known as butterfly “ hill-topping .”
Various expeditions have found many new-to-science endemic species of butterflies , including Cymothoe baylissi poppyana . This species , found by Bayliss , was named after his daughter , Poppy . Butterflies in the
Cymothoe genus characteristically spend most of their time in the canopy but also seek out sunny spots between the trees and feed on decaying vegetation on the forest floor .
Another endemic species , Epamera malaikae , a genus of butterflies in the Lycaenidae family , was collected close to the summit on Mt . Mabu over a series of expeditions . Lycaenidae is the secondlargest family of butterflies , with over 6,000 species worldwide . Members of this family are also called gossamer-winged butterflies . They belong in the “ pollux ” group , associated with montane forests .
Other endemic butterfly species that have been found include Neptis collinsi and Papilio pelodurus allani .
Believed to be the largest medium-altitude rainforest in southern Africa , Mt . Mabu is threatened by mining and logging encroaching on Mabu Forest ’ s untouched , old-growth areas . Rainforest Trust and our partner , Rede para Gestão Comunitária de Recursos Naturals ( R-GCRN ), are protecting 18,277 acres , about three-quarters the size of Disney World in Florida , to establish the Mabu Forest Conservation Area in Mozambique . This area — when protected — will safely store 1,642,148 metric tons of CO 2 equivalents .
TOP : MABU SUMMIT BUTTERFLIES BY JULIAN BAYLISS