Wow! Over 325 species of butterflies have been found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
or LRGV.
Our yard in Mission has had 159 butterfly species (ALL HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED BY PHOTOS OR SPECIMENS); more species than are
found on 25 States' lists.
There are probably several reasons for these large numbers of butterfly species that are found in South Texas'
Lower Rio Grande Valley:
1) More people willing to document the RGV butterflies
through collecting and through raising LRGV caterpillars.
2) Fantastic, relatively inexpensive digital zoom cameras only available in the past few years that are
able to document many LRGV butterfly species, without having to collect them.
3)
Excellent field guides and the Internet references that have recently become available to assist you in identifying
the RGV butterflies.
4) The ever growing number of people in the field that,
because of all of the above, are out looking for the Rio Grande Valley butterflies, and are finding new LRGV lepidoptera species.
Many of these folks are networking to help each other.
5) Public and private awareness
of the need for the planting of LRGV native butterfly nectaring and LRGV native butterfly host plants.
6) Establishing small, medium, and quite large butterfly-specific gardens by Federal, State, LRGV
county, LRGV city governments, LRGV school districts, and Rio Grande Valley residents.
7) Awareness and appreciation by RGV governments, RGV school entities, RGV businesses, and RGV Chambers
of Commerce about the economic impact of LRGV butterfliers and RGV butterflies
8)
There are more rather recently established, re-vegetated, and protected habitats in the Rio Grande Valley than the
RGV has had in many years.
9) The Rio Grande Valley's southern
location and the LRGV's close proximity to Mexico as well as rather new Mexican butterfly plantings and Mexican government
and Mexican citizen awareness of the economic impact of tourist butterfliers and Mexican butterfliers.
10) And probably most important, the willingness of very knowledgeable lepidopterists to share their experience
and knowledge about the Rio Grande Valley moths and the RGV butterflies.
Have hardly mentioned the RGV moths and the ever-growing number of folks looking for these beautiful
and unique creatures.
Come
see the mariposas y polillas of South Texas' Lower Rio Grande Valley or LRGV, come often, bring friends, and use the links
on this site to help you find and enjoy our LRGV lepidoptera!
