Migration of about 10 million Horshef nymph butterflies (photo: Yoav Ityel, editing: Itai Amram)
After the national flower (anemone) and the national bird (duchipetha), came the choice of Israel's butterfly.
Say hello to Khalil Hashbarak, who was chosen this morning (Sunday) as the "National Butterfly of Israel" ahead of the country's 75th Independence Day.
The Association of Butterfly Lovers in Israel initiated in partnership with the Kimat Israel Foundation, the Society for the Protection of Nature, the Nature and Parks Authority, the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History and other natural entities the initiative to select the "Butterfly of Israel", with the intention of aligning with many of the countries of the world, which already have " butterfly" as a national symbol, and out of a desire to raise awareness of preserving open spaces and unique habitats.
As the lightning flute, which won overwhelming sympathy, was not initially considered one of the leaders in the race, but it turns out that the metallic blue color of the male butterfly won the hearts of the voters.
This is a common butterfly almost throughout the country, and in the south of the country its distribution reaches as far as Ein Gedi, Sde Boker, Mitzpe Ramon, the southern Gaza Strip, the Sinai border.
Flying almost all year round except January.
And it is especially easy to recognize the male, his color is metallic blue and the edges of the wings are white.
Common almost all over the country.
Kahalil Hashbarak, who was chosen as the country's national butterfly (photo: official website, Zemach Sheda website)
An emotional connection to the colors of the flag and the symbol
The results from the schools and kindergartens that arrived in the selection of the butterfly, began to paint a picture of a prominent preference for Kahlil HaShavrak who captured the hearts of the children mainly thanks to the connection to the colors of the flag which are embedded in the hearts of each of us and especially in the children who sing "My flag is blue and white like the sea and the desert".
Leah Binyamini, director of selection: "The beginning of the road, when the stage of reducing the number of nominated butterflies from 24 to 12 by Mentri, photographers and butterfly enthusiasts began, it seemed that the close fight would be between fans of a handsome swallowtail (which was finally selected for 5th place) and between The Maccabee swallow (6th place). When the main question was - should we choose a butterfly that is quite well known to the public and ignore the fact that it is common throughout Europe, Asia and even North America. D compared to a unique butterfly but described from Israel and whose name is a reminder of our history and in addition, being a protected butterfly that represents the importance The protection of nature and its preservation. When the difference between choosing a more familiar and common butterfly and a butterfly that is not common, but was described from Israel and is called the Maccabee swallowtail, has a connection to our history and also our advantage in that we are a protected species that represents the preservation of nature. When we learned about the trend that we did not expect, We realized that there is an emotional connection to the colors of the flag and the symbol in all of us, no matter what political opinion and whether we are nature lovers or not, especially when the choice is for the Israeli nature symbol."
Atzilit Hiera and Danait Dora came in the second and third places.
"We realized that the shebark flute is a better choice than the common tern, which is known for being a migratory butterfly, but it flies mainly near its host plant, which is not common. Or the honeysuckle, whose flight time is limited and is only found in mountainous areas in the wadis near its host. We also realized that the abundance of its host allows it to be Common (feeds on species of shebark, lotus alfalfa, honeydew clover). Also, many were in favor of the noble honeysuckle (2nd place), a butterfly unique in its beauty and the contrast of both sides of its wings and the way in which it flies and flutters along valleys and cliffs, from the noble flight of the noble gave it its name. The nobleness of the honeysuckle can be seen in the north of the country and in mountainous areas where its main host Italian honeysuckle grows, rarely even near cultivated honeysuckle species," Binyamini adds.
There was also a large lobby for the Danait al-Dora butterfly (3rd place), a migratory butterfly that comes from Africa and in the last six years manages to survive the Israeli winter and establish several generations here.
It can be seen in the south mainly in places where the Sodom apple grows and the pointed choke its preferred host plant.
The watchers will see him all year round in the butterfly park at the Kalil factory in Karmiel.
In Agmon Hula you can see it en masse next to its host plant, in southern areas you can see it most of the year next to the host plant.
Its flight is slow, it is easy to see and the way it sails indicates to a large extent its toxicity and security against its enemies.
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As the lightning flute won the hearts of the children mainly thanks to the connection to the colors of the flag.
Israel's butterfly selection ceremony (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Dov Greenblatt)
A symbol that will unite nature lovers around him
The "Butterfly of Israel" will be a symbol that will unite nature lovers from all sectors of Israeli society, and will help increase public awareness of butterflies, the difficulties they face due to climate change and accelerated human development, and their crucial role in the ecosystem.
The "Butterfly of Israel" will join the most well-known choice of a nature symbol which is the choice of the national bird - a dove, and other nature symbols (anemone, olive).
The chosen butterfly represented the department of insects, one of the most important and underappreciated departments of the animal world, which is one of the essential layers of the ecosystem.
The butterflies are among the most spectacular and beautiful representatives of this important department and in their full incarnation: egg, caterpillar, pupa and adult, they symbolize change alongside continuity;
Two characteristics, which only if they exist side by side, will be decisive resilience factors in an era of environmental crisis.
The butterflies also represent all the insects that are the main pollinators in nature and in agriculture, without them the fertilization process that leads to the creation of fruits, seeds that constitute the next generations of the plant that is the basis for the existence of all ecosystems, would not take place.
The beauty of the butterfly and its availability in almost every ecological niche, including within settlements, make it a gateway to the natural world, and as such it is able to mobilize the public for nature and environmental issues, to connect with natural values, and to preserve and protect unique habitats in Israel in general, and in particular to recognize, preserve and protect Israel's butterflies, some of which are in danger of extinction.
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