The depletion of butterfly in the middle kingdom

Abstract EN

Regarding to Fgypt’s dry weather, it was difficult to butterflies to survive.

Egyptian butterfly ‘fauna‘ is limited and Egypt was one of the poor refuges for butterflies all over the world.1 Colored butterfly ‘order Lepidoptera’ was enlivened in many swampland scenes.

It is presented flying above papyrus stalks and feeding on herbages.2 Butterfly was displayed on walls of tombs and temples since the Old Kingdom to the Greco-Roman Period.

Moreover; butterfly was drawn on glazed earthenware and hippos/ found between birds and umbels of papyrus 'Cyper us papyrus I', found with frogs and other insects such as Locust on the marsh plant *Potamogcton lucens L'.4 Butterfly was inscribed on a 4* dynasty bracelet belongs to Queen Hetep hcrcs, appeared in die Texts of the Pyramids 712b and in the Coptic dictionary' in a word : Bnn pi.

butterflies.5 The zoological classification of butterfly species is through variant forms.

The lack of color complicates the distinction of butterfly whether of day or night.

Keimer stated that butterflies represented in die tomb of Beni Hassan are of 'Danais Chrysippus’ species and its subspecies Danais var atcippus Cr.c