Butterflies of Margalla Hills National ParkButterflies play mainly three roles in the ecosystem. They lay a large number of eggs, so a large number of caterpillars or larvae hatch out. These voraciously eat leaves throughout the day and night causing considerable damages to green plants. These larvae are pulpy and are picked by birds to feed their nestlings. After larval stage they become pupae and then these transform to beautiful butterflies. These then suck juice from various flowers, thus they help in cross-pollination. Margalla Hills National Park has large variety of butterflies. The common ones are illustrated here.

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Common LeopardMottled EmigrantLemon EmigrantCommon EmigrantLarge Cabbage WhitePioneer (Male)Pioneer (Female)

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Common Grass YellowCommon BrimstonePlain TigerCommon TigerCommon MormonCommon Windmill

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By ZB Mirza

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