Autumn is the perfect time for butterfly watching on Hehuan Mountain, where you can encounter the Formosan Clouded Apollo and the Yushan Shadow Butterfly

Text by the Endemic Species Research Institute

The autumn months of September to November are suitable for climbing high mountains. Besides the vast mountain scenery and the stretching forests, this is also the best month for watching the Formosan Clouded Apollo (Minois nagasawae) on the North Peak of Hehuan Mountain. The Formosan Clouded Apollo is an alpine butterfly; both its adults and larvae complete their lives at high altitudes. The larvae live in the soil beneath the snow cover, eating and drinking nothing, and wait until the following year to crawl out and feed on Yushan cane (Yushania niitakayamensis), then pupate and emerge as adults.

The Formosan Clouded Apollo is mainly brown in body color. Although its colors are not vivid or eye-catching, the black dots along the edges of its wings have white centers, so at first glance it looks as if many eyes are staring at you.

The ecology of Hehuan Mountain is all beautiful, but just observe it and do not disturb it

Yang Jiadong, director of the Endemic Species Research Institute, said that the Hehuan Mountain area has long been a popular tourist attraction: flower viewing in spring, escaping the heat in summer, hiking in autumn, and snow viewing in winter. Many animals are distributed only within the high-altitude range, such as the bird species the alpine accentor (Prunella collaris). In May, on the 3,400 m summit of the Main Peak of Hehuan Mountain, you can even see hundreds of Nantou crane flies (Tipula subapterogyne) flying in groups at the same time.

While enjoying the beautiful things of nature, we must learn to coexist with them. Slow down, and please use your eyes and camera to leave behind their beautiful forms. Do not casually enter the grass, and do not use your hands or tools to disturb their daily behavior.