Bukad Project

What if learning about Philippine insects felt more interactive? 🦋🐞🪲 On May 9, Bukad Project had the opportunity to support the pilot testing of INSEK’TO, an undergraduate thesis project by Gemma Pagaduan, a UP Diliman Fine Arts student. Designed for young learners, INSEK’TO introduces Philippine insects through a READ, WATCH, BUILD experience, combining a book, augmented reality, and hands-on paper model activities to make insect learning more engaging and accessible. During the session with students from Project 6 Special Science Elementary School, we opened with a short introduction to insects, biodiversity, and why these tiny creatures matter, before the students explored Gemma’s activity kit for themselves. We’re always excited to see creative projects that help young learners connect with Philippine biodiversity in meaningful ways. Thank you, Gemma, for letting us be part of your thesis journey ✨ #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity #EnvironmentalEducation

Today is Endangered Species Day 🦋  In the Philippines, 26 butterfly species are officially listed as threatened under DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09. Some are found only on specific islands. Others face habitat loss, environmental change, and collection pressure. Many remain unfamiliar to the public despite the risks they face. This Endangered Species Day, we’re shining a light on the butterflies that need protection too. Because conservation isn’t only about the species we already know—it’s also about the ones we often overlook. 🌿 This project is supported by the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. Reference: DENR. (2019). DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09: Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and Their Categories. IUCN 2026. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-2. #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity #EndangeredSpeciesDay

📸 Flutter Finds: Through the Lens of Kim Alunan 🦋 Chocolate Grass Yellow (Eurema sarilata) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🦋 Common Banded Demon (Notocrypta paralysos) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🦋 Common Mormon (Papilio polytes) [male] 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🦋 Faun (Faunis phaon) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🦋 Mountain Blue Archduke (Lexias satrapes) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🦋 Orange Gull (Cepora aspasia) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🦋 Tagala Bushbrown (Mycalesis tagala) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🌙 Geometer Moth (Hyposidra leucomela) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🌙 Oriental White Silk Moth (Penicillifera apicalis) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🌙 Scoopwing Moth (Monobolodes sp.) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🌙 Songgon Moth (Acropteris cf. rectinervata) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🌙 Sumatran Butterfly-Moth (Callidula cf. sumatrensis) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo 🌙 Swallowtail Moth (Cathetus cf. euthysticha) 📍 Mt. Napulak, Igbaras, Iloilo Species information in the comments 👇 Have butterfly or moth photos? Send us a DM to be featured. 💚 This project is supported by the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. We also thank Ma’am Leana Lahom-Cristobal of Philippine Lepidoptera for verifying the moth identifications. Reference: Badon, J. A. T. (2023). A naturalist’s guide to the butterflies of the Philippines. John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd. The Moths of Borneo. . Accessed April 22, 2026. #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity #FlutterFinds

A glimpse into the butterflies of Masungi Georeserve. 🦋 From striking species to newly documented ones, each sighting reflects the richness of life within this landscape. Butterflies are environmental indicators, offering insight into the health of ecosystems and the diversity of life they support. Masungi’s unique rock formations and lush forests support a thriving wildlife sanctuary. #SaveMasungi This project is supported by the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. We also thank @masungigeoreserve for making this work possible. 📸 Masungi Georeserve Foundation/Renz Perez/Jolo Eisma 📸 Bukad Project/Jillian De Leon/Dustin Francisco References: Badon, J. A. T. (2023). A naturalist’s guide to the butterflies of the Philippines. John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd. Hardy, Peter & Lawrence, James. (2022). Butterflies of the Philippines. iNaturalist. Available from . Accessed March 31, 2026. #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity

Big ideas making a big impact 🌱 Through CoalitionWILD’s EXCELerator Program, Dustin gained the tools to turn his vision for @bukadproject into action for the planet. 🦋 The EXCELerator Program is a six-month intensive designed to equip emerging conservation leaders with the skills, mentorship, and support to bring their action projects to life. Interested in joining the next cohort? Sign up for our newsletter at the link in bio to be the first to hear when applications open! #CoalitionWILD #YouthLeadership #Conservation #ButterflyConservation

On March 25, Bukad Project held a Flutter Session in Masungi, working with park officers to explore butterfly ecology and monitoring in the field. 🦋✨ From learning the basics to setting up bait traps and conducting transect walks, we focused on building practical skills that support biodiversity conservation on the ground. Butterflies serve as indicators of ecosystem health—making them an important focus for conservation and monitoring. This project is supported by the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. We also thank @masungigeoreserve for making this work possible. #SaveMasungi 📸 Masungi Georeserve Foundation/Jolo Eisma 📸 Bukad Project/Andrey Yeung/Jillian De Leon #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity

When forests thrive, butterflies—and all other wildlife—thrive too. 🦋✨ As environmental indicators, their presence reflects the health of the ecosystem. Masungi’s iconic rock formations and lush forests support a rich and thriving ecosystem. #SaveMasungi This project is supported by the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. We also thank @masungigeoreserve for making this work possible. 📸 Masungi Georeserve Foundation/Renz Perez #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity

On March 28, we brought Bukad Project’s Flutter Session online for the first time through the third installment of BIOTA-Bicol’s Webinar Series, in partnership with Bicol University College of Science, under the theme “Evolution and the Diversity of Life.” Together with over 250 participants, we shared the basics of butterfly biology and ecology, grounded in a simple goal: helping people see butterflies as more than just beautiful insects, but as important organisms of our ecosystems. Maraming salamat po BIOTA-Bicol for the trust and for opening this space for Bukad. This project is supported by the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity #ScienceCommunication

Flutter Fact: Bakit nga ba “butterfly” ang tawag sa butterfly? 🦋 Follow us as we discover the flutter of our butterflies. This project is supported by the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. References: Online Etymology Library - Butterfly Images: Cheongweei Gan. (2022). iNaturalist observation 130207302. Accessed on 29 Mar 2026. Galin Ivanov. (2024). iNaturalist observation 212691785. Accessed on 29 Mar 2026. #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity #Wildlife

📸 Flutter Finds: Through the Lenses of the Community 🦋 Northern Wallacean (Zethera pimplea) 📍 Mt. Lubo, Tanay, Rizal 📸 Wilhelm Tan 🦋 Common Mapwing (Cyrestis maenalis) 📍 Mt. Lubo, Tanay, Rizal 📸 Wilhelm Tan 📍 Pugo, La Union 📸 Toby Vergara 🦋 Chocolate Albatross (Appias lyncida) 📍 Batac, Ilocos Norte 📸 Toby Vergara 🦋 Zebra Blue (Leptotes plinius) 📍 Batac, Ilocos Norte 📸 Toby Vergara 🦋 Common Glassy Tiger (Parantica vitrina) 📍 Aurora 📸 Bads Trinidad 🌙 White Tiger Moth (Nyctemera coleta) 📍 Aurora 📸 Bads Trinidad 🦋 Orange Gull (Cepora aspasia) 📍 Pasig City, Metro Manila 📸 Tina Montes Species information in the comments 👇 We love seeing your butterfly observations! 💚 Share your butterfly photos with us to be featured in Flutter Finds. This project is supported by the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. Reference: Badon, J. A. T. (2023). A naturalist’s guide to the butterflies of the Philippines. John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd. iNaturalist. Available from . Accessed March 18, 2026. Kunte, K. and S. Sondhi. 2026. COPYRIGHT STATEMENT . In Sondhi, S., R.P. Singh, G. Iyer, J. D’silva and K. Kunte (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. 4.11. Indian Foundation for Butterflies. #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity #FlutterFinds

On March 3, we celebrate World Wildlife Day. 🌿🦋 When we hear “wildlife,” we often picture dense forests or places far from our cities and towns. Yet butterflies thrive in gardens, school grounds, parks, and roadsides—spaces woven into daily life. They depend on the plants growing around us, including those used for medicine, food, and livelihood in many communities. When these plants are present and diverse, the pollinators and ecosystems connected to them can thrive as well. Conservation can begin with something simple: paying attention to what is already here. Which butterflies have you seen in your area? 🦋 This project is supported by the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. References: Badon, J. A. T. (2023). A naturalist’s guide to the butterflies of the Philippines. John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd. Images: Anoop Asranna (2025) - /observations/311907534 Floyd E. Hayes (2025) - /observations/329704824 Ujjal Kishor De (2025) - /observations/305997695 Ujjal Kishor De (2025) - /observations/324111919 woktobia (2023) - /observations/191575324 kristin_trepels (2025) - /observations/320121887 #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity #WorldWildlifeDay2026

📸 Flutter Finds: Through the Lens of Aldrich Roque 🦋 Luzon Grass Dart (Taractrocera cf. luzonensis) 📍 Malolos, Bulacan 🦋 Psyche (Leptosia nina) 📍 Malolos, Bulacan 🦋 Lesser Grass Blue (Zizina cf. otis) 📍 Malolos, Bulacan 🌙 Beet Webworm Moth (Spoladea recurvalis) 📍 Malolos, Bulacan 🌙 Convolvulus Hawk-Moth (Agrius convolvuli) 📍 Malolos, Bulacan 🌙 Wasp Moth (cf. Amata sp.) 📍 Malolos, Bulacan Species information in the comments 👇 We love seeing your observations! 💚 Share your butterfly and moth photos with us to be featured in Flutter Finds. This project is supported by the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. Reference: Badon, J. A. T. (2023). A naturalist’s guide to the butterflies of the Philippines. John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd. VanDyk, John, ed. 2026. BugGuide.Net: Identification, Images, & Information For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin For the United States & Canada. Iowa State University. Accessed February 22 2026. /. iNaturalist. Available from . Accessed February 22, 2026. #BukadProject #Butterflies #ButterflyConservation #Biodiversity #FlutterFinds