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The butterfly species Libythea myrrha was recently recorded at the Hong Kong Wetland Park for the first time. This butterfly belongs to the family Libytheidae, which is characterised by an extremely long snout. The family had never been recorded in Hong Kong before and brings the total number of butterfly families recorded here to 11.
Wetlands are full of life and rich in ecological resources - they house fish, birds, insects and a variety of plants. Butterflies are tiny, yet their colourful patterns and metamorphic process are magical. Summer is the best season to see hundreds of butterflies flitting around the Park. With its abundant nectar and larval food plants, the Butterfly Garden is an ideal habitat for butterflies and a great spot for butterfly watching. The Park has recorded 152 species of butterflies and some uncommon species such as the swallowtail and the red lacewing can be sighted.
Apart from butterfly watching, visitors can also appreciate the beauty of a variety of lotus and water lilies along the Succession Walk and in the freshwater marshes of the Park in the summer when the lotus plants are in full bloom. The lotus is a graceful and elegant aquatic plant. Lotus flowers are fragrant and have single, semi-double or double petals. They come in a range of colours such as red, pink and white. Its ornamental beauty also provides photographers with endless inspiration.
To add extra fun, the Park has arranged a wide range of activities for visitors. "Butterfly Classroom" will introduce the techniques in butterfly identification and appreciation while the lotus-themed art workshops will lead visitors to closely observe the elegant forms of the lotus.
The Park will hold a lecture and workshop in August to introduce to participants the techniques of taking macro photographs of insects and the tiny features of other animals and plants. In addition, "Macro Photos Collection" is being held from now until August 31. Visitors may submit their macro shots of wildlife taken in the Park and outstanding entries will be exhibited.
For programme details, please visit www.wetlandpark.com.
Ends/Saturday, July 16, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:31
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