Meet the keeper influenced by the Butterfly Effect

Butterflies are a common sight during spring in Beijing. Their dainty, colorful wings and graceful flight make them an object of fascination among many nature observers. Wang Yang, a 23-year-old butterfly keeper from Qingdao, Shandong Province, raises the day-flying insects at Qicaidie Ecological Garden in northwest Beijing's Changping district. Raising butterflies revolves around the creatures' four-part life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult.

1. When did you become interested in raising butterflies?

When I was five years old, my father took me to climb mountains and caught several insects for me. Among them was a butterfly, which fascinated me with its beautiful appearance. After that, I started to catch butterflies and raise them.

2. How do you raise butterflies?

I first raised adult butterflies with sugar water as a substitute for their main food source of pollen. I didn't know about their life cycle until I came across a female butterfly that was laying its eggs on a leaf. I decided to break off a branch with leaves and put it into a glass jar filled with sugar water. My butterfly laid eggs on the leaf several days later. I was so excited.

3. What's your families' attitude toward your job? 

Generally speaking, they support what I do. My parents were a little worried about my studies when I was younger because I loved raising butterflies so much and would often go out to catch and observe them after school each day. My teacher was concerned, and advised me to postpone my hobby to give my studies priority.

4. How many species of butterflies are you familiar with and have you had any interesting experiences with them?

I'm familiar with more than 200 species of butterflies in China. They are very fragile and even the slightest movement can be fatal. To ensure they survive, I need to pay close attention to the humidity and temperature on a hygrothermograph (humidity gauge). If it is abnormal, butterflies that are still caterpillars could develop enteritis (inflammation) and die. Botanic knowledge is indispensable because different types of butterflies feed and lay eggs on leaves of different plants.