Valley of the Butterflies in Greece Bashny.Net

Butterfly Valley, also known as Petaloudes, located on the west side of the Greek island of Rhodes, at a distance of approximately 25 kilometers from the city. The Valley is home to thousands of butterflies four-Dipper (Euplagia quadripunctaria rhodosensis), covering everything after the rainy season. By the end of May, the whole landscape of the valley is transformed into one big quilt of amazing butterflies.





During the rainy period, butterflies live in the Mediterranean thicket stage caterpillars eating leaves. At the end of the rainy season the caterpillars turn into butterflies. With the approach of the dry season butterflies migrate, traveling at night in search of moisture. They stop in the valley attracted by the scent of eucalyptus. Once they reach their destination, then settle on the trunks of trees and rocks.

Butterflies spend all summer in the cool moist environment of the valley, mating in the last weeks of August and September. Most of the female flies away from the valley, in some cases, flying more than 25 kilometers to lay their eggs in a safe dark place, preferably among the shrubs and plants, and then die. Young butterflies go out of their cocoons in the spring, spread throughout the surrounding area. In June, they turn into a full-fledged butterflies. The heat and the smell of eucalyptus trees beckon them back to the valley and the cycle repeats.

Unfortunately, the valley is open to visitors and increase tourism threatens the population of butterflies. In a four-bears no stomach, because the butterfly is living solely by the fat accumulated caterpillar. The constant anxiety because of the noise from the visitors forced butterflies often fly away from their resting places. As a result, not consumed valuable renewable energy - many butterflies exhaust energy and die before the process of procreation. Visitors can visit the valley, but they are advised not to disturb the butterflies and loud noise.