BUTTERFLYS & THEIR VALUABLE
ROLE IN THE ECOSYSTEM
The Tasmanian Hairstreak Butterfly is most colourful , being black and bright orange. Note the
butterfly illustrated on this page is actually the Monarch .If anyone has an image of the
Hairstreak I would like to display it here.
The Hairstreak has been considered rare and endangered but not officially classified as such,
sightings have increased recently, but still considered vulnerable due to loss of habitat from
uncontrolled clearing of trees and the understorey.
In 1984 the last known habitat was a small pocket of remnant vegetation at Port Sorell , now
subdivided.
The growth of rural subdivisions is the main reason for the species decline.
 
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The Monarch 
A butterfly lights beside us
Like a sunbeam.
And for one brief moment
It's glory and beauty
belongs to us.
But then it flies on again,
And though we wish it could
have stayed
We feel so blessed to have seen it.
Author unknown |
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