"Valley of the Butterflies "Petaloudes(η κοιλάδα των πεταλούδων)is a narrow rocky valley a mile long, humid and heavily forested, including pine and aliboufiers.
Location
The Valley of the Butterflies is located 24 km from Rhodes on the west coast of the island , with the interior.
On the coastal road to the west, between the villages of Kremasti and Paradissi and not far from the archaeological site of Camiros , we take the left, the road climbs up to the famous valley, 4 km. Parking is a little away from the site.
The Valley of the Butterflies is a place of remarkable beauty forest with waterfalls, ponds, streams, wooden walkways and shaded paths that bring freshness and calm.
During the summer months, June to September, this valley houses impressive clouds of red and brown butterflies, attracted by the sweet scent of leaves aliboufiers. When walking on the path climbing along the river, we see nothing: he must approach the rocks or bushes to see these butterflies. But at the slightest noise, millions of butterflies fly by clouds of foliage of trees and bushes.
Butterflies that live in this valley fees belong to the species tiger moth(Callimorpha quadripunctaria, syn.Euplagia quadripunctaria)(Callimorpha= "scale-like"quadripunctaria= "4 points"). Dark brown when installed, mottled scales show flying colors black, brown, white and red.
It was towards the end of the summer spawning that takes place, in April, the caterpillars hatch, and after metamorphosis, which occurs in June, butterflies spend the summer in the valley.
The presence of this species of butterfly in the precise location of Rhodes is due to a special botanical is the only site where Rhodes aliboufiers grow with balsamic sap attracts the butterflies.
Tiger moth population has declined sharply in recent years due to site traffic.
The aliboufiers (Styrax officinalis) secrete a resin ("storax" or "benzoin") appreciated in perfumery and pharmacy, which has the smell of vanilla and is used by local churches for the manufacture of incense. The name "storax" is also used improperly to refer to the resin of Liquidambar.
.jpg "The valley of Butterflies in Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "Cascade valley of butterflies Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "Reservoir in the valley of butterflies Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "The valley of Butterflies in Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "Input panel of the valley of butterflies Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "Aliboufier leaves the valley of butterflies Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
Visits
.jpg "The valley of Butterflies in Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "The valley of Butterflies in Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "Life cycle of tiger moth to the valley of butterflies Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "Eg tiger moth pupae to butterfly valley Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "Eg tiger moth chrysalis to butterfly valley Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "Tiger moth to the valley of butterflies Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "Aliboufier, board identification Koehler. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "Aliboufier, valley of Butterflies in Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
Other topics
.jpg "Ceramic butterfly valley Rhodes. Click to enlarge the image.")
