Spot butterflies with insect experts this weekend

Breakfast with Butterflies promises to offer an introduction to the world of beautiful moths.

Graceful, beautiful, delicate – and elusive. Butterflies are as slippery as the food they share their name with. What if it was possible to catch more than just a glimpse of these little jewels? The Bombay Natural History Society promises it, at a morning event.

The end of the monsoon witnesses a spike in the butterfly populations at the BNHS Nature Reserve in Goregaon. For nearly a decade, experts at the conservation centre have been taking advantage of this wonderful occurrence to host butterfly watching sessions. This Sunday’s even is for beginners and seasoned spotters alike.

The forthcoming session, hosted by Dr Raju Kasambe, ornithologist and lepidopterist, will start with a quick course on butterflies, offer a chance to see the insects in their natural habitat, and offer tips on how to attract butterflies in your backyard.

Of the 1,500 species of Indian butterflies, 150 can be spotted in Mumbai. “We are hoping to catch a glimpse of the Blue Mormon butterfly, especially since it has only recently been declared the State Butterfly of Maharashtra,” says Bilwada Kale, public relations officer of the BNHS.

The session offers participants a chance to see butterflies in their natural habitat and learn about them. (Bhagyashree Grampurohit)

The event isn’t just for show. It highlights the role that butterflies play in conservation: by pollinating flowers and providing food for nestling songbirds as well as caterpillars. “We often have participants returning to do longer courses, for as long as six months. Many end up rearing butterflies in their own homes!” says Kale.