The Valley of Butterflies, also known as Petaloudes Valley, is
located on the western side of the Greek island of Rhodes, about 25
kilometers away from the city. The valley is home to thousands of
butterflies of the Rhodes subspecies of the Jersey Tiger Moth
(Euplagia quadripunctaria rhodosensis), who make their
annual appearance after the rainy season, towards the end of May,
covering the entire landscape in a thick but delicate blanket.
During the rainy period, the butterflies live in the
Mediterranean thicket in the caterpillar stage feeding on foliage.
At the end of the wet season, the caterpillars metamorphose into
butterflies. As the dry season approaches, the butterflies migrate,
travelling at night in search of humidity, following the water
course, and end up in the valley. The butterflies are attracted by
the aroma from the valley’s Oriental Sweet gum trees. Once they
reach their destination, they settle lightly on the trunks of trees
and rocks and whatever surface is available, in great numbers.
The butterflies spend the entire summer in the cool, humid
habitat of the valley. Then they mate during the last weeks of
August and in September. Most females fly away from the valley, in
some cases they fly for more than 25 km, to lay their eggs in safe
dark places, preferably among bushes and the plants, and then die.
The baby butterflies pop out of their cocoons in spring spreading
throughout the surrounding area. In June they grow into full-blown
butterflies. The heat and the smell of the gum trees draw them back
to the valley, and the entire cycle repeats all over again.
Unfortunately, the valley is open to visitors and the increased
foot traffic is straining the butterfly population. The
Euplagia has no stomach, instead they live entirely off
their body fat which they had stored during their previous lives as
caterpillars. Constant disturbance from visitors such as clapping
or whistling startle the butterflies, forcing them to fly away
frequently from their resting place. The activity consumes valuable
energy that cannot be replenished. Many butterflies run out of
energy and die before they could reproduce.
Visitors are encouraged to visit the valley but they are advised
not to disturb the butterflies or make loud noises.
