Chapter 733: Chapter 732: Dim Specin Chapter 733: Chapter 732: Dim Specin The two leisurely strolled down the butterfly exhibit’s path, admiring the various beautiful butterflies.
By reading the informative display boards along the route, they also learned a lot about butterflies.
For instance, butterflies do not have a heating system in their bodies and must bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature, using their wings to adjust heat.
When the sun shines directly, the scales automatically open up to reduce the angle of the sun’s rays, absorbing less heat from the sunlight; when the outside temperature drops, the scales automatically close, sticking closely to the body, allowing the sun to shine directly on them to absorb more warmth.
In this way, they keep their body temperature within a normal range.
The temperature control system on artificial satellites was designed after the butterfly’s scales.
When butterflies overwinter, they position their heads facing due south so that they can both observe their surroundings and bathe in the gentle sunlight, acting like a compass.
The fad monarch butterfly and their migration journey were naturally also ntioned.
The monarch butterfly’s scientific na is monarch butterfly, and they form massive swarms of over a hundred million individuals in August and September, crossing North Arica to overwinter in the pine forests of California and xico, then returning to the north in the spring.
Such a huge congregation of butterflies is truly a spectacular sight, with butterflies clinging to each other one after another, covering trees densely in a kaleidoscope of colors, turning the forest into a sea of orange and red.
The migration of the monarch butterfly involves generational handoffs as they breed while migrating; one generation dies, and the offspring take over, progressing in a leapfrog fashion. A roundtrip migration is completed by five generations of butterflies.
They migrate approximately 130 kiloters daily, with the longest trek reaching up to 5000 kiloters.
Tang Xiaoxin, looking at the display board, imagined the scene of their migration and couldn’t help but feel stirred!
These delicate sprites, as thin as paper, possess such a clear goal, using the sun as their compass and flying straight in one direction.
Soaring high above the curvature of the earth, enduring weeks of continuous flight, they traverse thousands of kiloters, conclude their brief lives, and leave behind offspring to carry on their genes.
Truly an incredible and romantic creature.
However, the subsequent content weighed heavily on her heart.
In the past 20 years, the population of monarch butterflies has plumted sharply, moving them to the verge of being vulnerable and even endangered.
One reason is habitat reduction, with rampant deforestation and the destruction of a large number of coniferous forests.
Another is the extensive use of herbicides and pesticides, which diminishes the tropical milkweed that they depend on for survival.
Furthermore, with global warming and the increase in carbon dioxide levels, the tropical milkweed might develop toxicity that is too much for the caterpillars to tolerate.
The increase in extre weather conditions can result in many caterpillars being hard by cold spells, reducing the number of butterflies that erge.
Insects are an important component of biodiversity and play a crucial role in ecosystem functions. For example, pollinators worldwide generate an annual value of several hundred billion dollars, yet they seldom receive public attention.
Recent studies show that over the past 30 years, the number of global insects has been declining by an annual rate of 2.5%. Over 40% of insect species are dwindling in number, with about one third being endangered, including significant decreases among butterflies, moths, and bees.
Industrial-scale intensive agriculture, excessive pesticide use, urbanization, and increasingly frequent and anomalous climate changes are the primary factors behind the dramatic reduction in insect numbers.
Next to the display board, there also lies a monarch butterfly specin, quietly encased in glass.
Compared to the other lively, fluttering butterflies, it appears sowhat dimd.
Tang Xiaoxin gazed at the specin, deep in thought.
Considering all the butterflies in the garden, if they were all to beco withered specins, and we could only daydream about their beauty when they were alive, it would be quite a sentintal thought.
If we do not pay attention and protect them, this scene could beco a reality in ten or twenty years.
“Don’t cry, let the fireflies carry you away, the country’s folk song forever a support…”
Fireflies used to be a common sight, twinkling in the night fields, such a romantic and beautiful scene, but now where can you see them?
Together with the frogs, dragonflies, bats, and various other animals, they disappeared without a trace.
“Eh~”
Tang Xiaoxin sighed softly and couldn’t help but think of the local exhibition area in the zoo.
Using ecological pest control without pesticides or fertilizers, they also provide habitats for various animals, where humans and nature coexist harmoniously.
A new hope started to rise in her heart.
…
After visiting the butterfly exhibit, they ca to the cherry blossom forest.
Bunches of beautiful cherry blossoms hung on the treetops, a feast of romantic pink to the eyes.
A cool spring breeze passed through, causing the petals on the trees to sway gently, bathing in the golden sunshine, the semi-translucent petals seed to emanate a faint glow, so delicate and pretty.
The visitors strolled through, admiring the beauty of the cherry blossoms, occasionally raising their phones to take pictures, capturing this romantic scene.
Tang Xiaoxin leaned in close to the cherry blossoms, took a deep breath, and smiled, “It slls so good! Is this what happiness slls like?”
Qian Keke raised her hands, closed her eyes, and embraced the cherry blossom forest, with an intoxicated look on her face, “Wow, it’s just amazing, I really want to lie down here and take a nap!”
“Don’t sleep, we still have more to see!”
“I’m just saying~”
They visited the snow monkey exhibit, where the snow on the temple square had lted, and the pond water was lush with green, it seed that it had transitioned from hot springs to regular water.
Although they couldn’t see the snow monkeys bathing in the hot springs, watching them frolic and play against the backdrop of cherry blossoms was a delightful sight that lifted the spirits.
There were snow monkeys swimming in the pond, parting the water, rippling waves, with the beautiful cherry blossom petals undulating along.
Others were leaping up and down the cherry trees, swinging the branches, chasing and playing around.
Occasionally, they would pluck a petal and taste it.
Two little monkeys snuggled up into a ball.
The Monkey King Big Black squatted on a rock, his gaze sweeping over the playful little ones.
He looked solitary and unapproachable but had a surprisingly gentle expression.
After playing for a while, a little monkey ran up to Big Black, tugging at him as if trying to get him to join in the fun.
Big Black seed a bit helpless as he was pulled, and started to groom the little monkey’s fur.
The grood snow monkey squinted its eyes, looking rather content.
But after a few strokes, Big Black stopped. The grooming was just a perfunctory gesture not to have the youngster bother him.
Seeing this, the little snow monkey lifted its head as if hoping Big Black would continue grooming it.
Big Black jumped off the rock and moved to another spot to continue being alone.
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