Iracambi´s Prospects for Butterfly Farming

 

Nina Baliga

INTRODUCTION

As shown in the Kipepeo Project in Kenya, butterfly farming can be an economically viable prospect, while preserving and working with the natural forest.  As Fazenda Iracambi already hosts a wide variety of butterfly species, it could be an additional means of gaining income for Amigos de Iracambi and the local community.  Butterfly farms can be used as either tourist attractions, or as farms to contribute to the market of exotic butterflies; the author recommends the latter as a feasible project for Iracambi.

OBJECTIVE

To provide the background information and outline the necessary steps and obstacles in instituting a butterfly farm here at Iracambi.

METHODOLOGY

RESULTS

Outline of Project Proposal:

• Who:  The project would need the help of local farmers, mostly women and children, to collect specimens and set up the initial infrastructure, as well as cleaning and feeding the species in their various stages.
• What:  Species should be those that are popular in global butterfly houses, and be viable in captivity.  Possibilities for Iracambi include: Caligos, Morphos, Junonias, Danaus, Heliconius, Dione and many more.  However, experimentation is necessary to see which species will survive and thrive.
• How:  Starting the farm would require knowledge about the entomological duties required for breeding butterflies, the horticultural duties of creating appropriate plant food, as well as the book-keeping that goes along with the startup of any project.
• Step 1:  Need to develop a sanctuary for butterflies, complete with plants, flowers, and sugar sponges to attract the various species.  This area should be covered by a net to contain the butterflies, which will lay their eggs throughout the sanctuary, and can then be collected. 
• Step 2:  Maintain the caterpillars and keep them well fed until they go into their final life stage of larvae pupate.  This is the dormant stage and can range from a few days to a few months, depending on species. 
• Step 3: Collect the pupate as soon as possible and ship to locations.
• Funding:  Must first invest in materials necessary for breeding and set-up.  Profits take time as price per butterfly ranges from US $1.50 to $4.50.

Obstacles:

• While butterfly houses pay for the costs of shipping, access to fast and reliable international shipping may not be easy for Iracambi.
• There is a large start up investment in terms of money and time.  Also there is a lot of trial and error involved to ensure the success of breeding.
• Some environmental Brazilian laws restrict the breeding and exporting of animals; these laws should be looked at carefully before starting any project.