Ninfálidos (Ithomiinae) como herramienta para el fortalecimiento de habilidades científicas en entornos rurales: “Una experiencia con mariposas alas de cristal”

Abstract

The butterflies of the Ithomiini tribe (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), have an exclusively neotropical distribution, are generally found inside the forests and their presence gives information about the quality of the ecosystems, for which it is of the utmost importance to prioritize their conservation, through education. In the present work, the life cycle of the butterfly Pagyris Cymothoe (Ithomiini tribe) was studied under natural conditions in the municipality of Albán, Cundinamarca, for its subsequent application in the development of scientific skills in students of the IERD Chimbe (Institución Educativa Rural Departamental). The eggs were collected in the countryside, and placed in a plastic container until hatching. Daily observations were made to note the length of the larvae (from the head, to the end of the tenth abdominal segment in dorsal view), to contemplate changes of stage, morphology or color of the individuals, likewise, the immature states and the adult were described. Subsequently, a survival table was made to establish mortality in each of the stages. Additionally, the cephalic capsules per instar were kept dry to take amplitude data (given by the arrangement of the cephalic setae) and leaf consumption was quantified through ImageJ software. A duration of 36.91 days is recorded, from egg to pupa, and a total mortality of 31.9%. Once the butterflies emerged from their chrysalis, they were released in the zoo of the IERD Chimbe, which was previously built and suitable for this purpose. Thanks to the construction of the zoo, it was possible to bring the students closer to the knowledge of the butterflies of their region, promoting the development of scientific skills in them; providing them with an alternative space to the classroom, favoring their creativity, attention, motivation and bringing them closer to scientific research. This work contributed to the knowledge of P. cymothoe, of which there is little biological information, expanding the knowledge of the lepidoptera fauna in the country and finally favoring the conservation of the species.