Black Immigrant Daily News

“Without birds, we wouldn’t have certain fruit trees,” Gaskin said.

“The presence of specific food plants is of primary influence to the presence of butterflies.

The monarch butterfly is generally migrates according to the climate but not in Trinidad, Gaskin said, owing to the country’s ideal weather conditions.

“In Trinidad its migratory instinct is completely lost in the relative uniformity of our climate; it exists here happily.

“A very dry season,” she said, “followed by heavy rain, is good for butterfly breeding and hatching.

“Butterflies thrive, where there is sunshine, warmth and a great abundance of flowering shrubs and trees.”

However, Gaskin is concerned that climate change is a major contributor to their dwindling numbers locally, in addition to the removal of food plants.

“We have everything that they need; the weather, the climate (and) the food so far (but) we are still doing what we’re not supposed to do. We are still cutting down forests, we’re still cutting down plants rather than planting.”

Gaskin noted that common food plants for butterflies in Trinidad include asclepias currassavica (Mexican butterfly weed), common milkweed, butterfly and swamp milkweed, flowers of the cucumber, pumpkin plants and citrus trees (especially orange trees).

She said one does not necessarily need a full or partial garden to make a difference but can do so by placing a few plant pots with these plants outside the house.

“They also suck the juices from rotting oranges, grapefruit, and bananas, (along with) pois doux (padoo) flowers, all the variety of cassia flowers, and all the passifloras, to name a few. “

Gaskin said, In proportion to its size, Trinidad is one of the richest places on earth for butterflies. “Our little country is some 200 times more popular than Brazil which is the world’s largest butterfly hot house,” she said.

Gaskin cited famous TT butterfly collector Malcolm Barcant, who, according to his 1970 publication Butterflies of Trinidad and Tobago, as of 1968, counted 740 species on the two islands (617 in Trinidad, 123 in Tobago) many of which are close to extirpation (local extinction).

She recognised the efforts of Serena Hearn, a fellow environmental activist of the non-governmental organisation Friends of Botanic Gardens of TT, who, along with volunteers, has made considerable progress in attracting butterflies back to the Botanic Gardens. Hearn described it as an “act of repatriation for the butterflies,” in a feature article published by Newsday in June.

The emperor butterfly has indeed been seen in increasing numbers at the Botanic Gardens since the butterfly garden began to flourish.

“I think (the initiative at the Botanic Gardens) is wonderful. but it’s not wide enough. It’s not understood sufficiently and, therefore, education is vital.

“What we are trying to do is spread the education, not just to a handful of people who like (butterflies). This is gone much further than knowledge or liking something; this is at the point where it’s vital that we are aware and can in some way assist.”

She said the efforts to educate the public revolve around the importance of human survival through the preservation of forests, waterways and creatures responsible for fertilisation.