Pretty privilege in the animal kingdom

In a society that places high value on physical appearance, being considered pretty by the standards of society is a privilege that guarantees a better treatment in every aspect of your life such as work and school; it is important to be aware of the fact that we apply the ‘pretty first’ rule to animals as well.

Pretty privilege is also present in the animal kingdom and we created the concept for them. A wide range of species are going extinct; often, these animals are insects and its for this reason that I decided to adopt three caterpillars from the Smartbug’s ButterflyKit, a bug kit that allows you to follow the extraordinary journey of a few caterpillars and their journey towards leaving the chrysalis and fly in nature as butterflies.

Papilio machaon or Old World swallowtail

The kit I’m interested in getting is the one containing the Papilio machaon, commonly known as Old World swallowtail, which is mostly spread around Eurasia and North Africa. My goal is to see them multiply and then populate my garden.

Moths or butterflies?

I also want to adopt Moth caterpillars, however, they are very hard to find online. I believe one reason why they are hard to find is the common misconception that moths are not aesthetically pleasant to watch, therefore, it is less likely for someone to create a moth kit to repopulate the moth species. As I previously mentioned, the epidemic of pretty privilege is also having an impact on small insects. In fact, since 1914, fifty six species of moths went extinct.

Moths are often smashed on walls as they are seen as this little insects that invade human houses to find a source of light. According to popular belief, moths are a nocturnal species while butterflies are diurnal, butterflies are colourful while moths have brownish and grey colours. The truth is that there are also diurnal moths and an elevated number of moths have extremely colourful wings. A few species often mistaken for butterflies are the Dysphania militaris also know as the False tiger moth, the Chrysiridia rhipheus also known as the Madagascan sunset moth and the Actias luna, also known as the Luna moth.

The animal kingdom is extremely diverse, there are thousands of different species wandering around the world and insects are the most diverse, many have similarities difficult to identify. The main difference between moths and butterflies is that most butterflies have 'bulbous' antenna whilst moths are usually furry. Most butterflies wings stick up at rest, whilst most moths lay flat against their abdomen. One of the many things they have in common is the fact that they both belong to the order Lepidoptera.

An army of butterflies

For now, I will focus on creating an army of butterflies and patiently wait for someone to create a moth kit. I will adopt three caterpillars and follow the instructions the kit provides. The kit offers a complete guide on how to safely ensure their growth and security.

Everything necessary is in the kit and this includes the feed, small houses needed to accommodate the caterpillars through all stages of metamorphosis and a small envelope needed to seclude the butterfly for twenty four hours before releasing it in the nature.

The caterpillars are very independent, they do all they need to do by themselves but it’s crucial to monitor their progress daily to ensure they are not in danger or at risk of dying. It’s also a requirement to put them in the right envelope while they go through their metamorphosis stages. I’m excited to admire the thirty day life cycle of this small creatures, I’m impatient to experience the magic of releasing them in the nature and setting them free in their new home.

Despite butterflies and moths not being the most common chosen pets, they will definitely have a place in my heart and I’m sure I can involve my family or friends through this new journey and adventure of mine.

Pet owners have the duty and responsibility to provide for their pets therefore I will take the responsibility to ensure that all the caterpillars will safely conclude their metamorphosis cycle. In fact, I was not aware of the fact that only one out of fifthy caterpillars make it to the final evolution stage. If you do happen to have some free time, you should definitely join this journey with me. Let me know if you will adopt some caterpillars by leaving a like or a tip.