Meinung's Yellow Butterfly Valley/美濃 黃蝶翠谷
Meinung's Yellow Butterfly Valley
◎Written by Yi-Chun Lin
◎Photos courtesy of Meinug's Community Association, Lin Cing-fong, Song Ting-dong, Pao Chung-hui
Meinung is a traditional Hakka township, established more than two hundred years ago. The Hakka people began arriving in the Ling Shan and Yue Guang areas during the Ching Dynasty. The area is particularly fertile due to the Meinung Creek that runs through the region, making it perfect for farming in the region. To this day, over 80% of its population are still Hakka people, with their own distinct culture and heritage. The area is defined by its emerald coloured tobacco fields, oil-paper umbrella vendors and tobacco buildings that can be seen around the township.
Meinung is located on the northern corner of the Pingtung Alluvial Plain. The Meinung Mountains loom in the background with the Meinung Creek branching out across the valley. The area receives an abundance of rainfall and sunshine fostering the diverse ecosystems of Yellow Butterfly Valley. It is also the home of the Lemon Emigrant butterfly (Catopsilia Pomona). The butterflies were introduced to the region during Japanese Colonial Rule, when the Japanese planted the Hop Hornbeam tree to produce wood to build track for its newly constructed rail system. The leaves of the trees were also the favoured food of the Catopsilia Pomona larvae. This attracted many female, egg-laying butterflies and a rare ecological butterfly valley emerged.
The yellow butterfly comes into season between late April and the beginning of summer. They are most active before the rainy season. As many as fifty million butterflies have been recorded in one season and still maintain the world record for the highest density of Catopsilia Pomona and Catopsilia Crocale. However, with greater development of the region, the number of the butterflies has been rapidly decreasing.
The valley's surrounding eco-systems are also amazing. President of Meinung's Community Association, Mr. Liu Hsiao-shen, explains the rich, diverse biological landscape should not be missed. Yellow Butterfly Valley is home to more than 160 butterfly species and over 90 bird species including Muller's Barbet, Tree Pie, Bronzed Drongo, Kingfisher, Black Bulbul, Black-naped Blue Monarch, Formosan Scimitar Babbler to name a few. Endangered Maroon Oriole and rare Blue-Winged Pita are also sometimes spotted in the woodlands.
Shuangsi Tropical Forest is located next to Yellow Butterfly Valley. This seven hectares nature reserve was opened under Japanese Colonial Rule in 1935. The Japanese imported more than 270 species of plants from South Pacific Islands, Indo-China Peninsula, Australia, Africa and South America. Towering trees with tangled roots stand along the footpath and birds fly through the harmonious natural landscape. The refreshing cool breeze and pleasant sunshine of the valley is a great for hiking, relaxing or just enjoying the fresh air, allowing visitors to forget the hustle and bustle of the city.
美濃 黃蝶翠谷
◎文／凌卓民
◎照片提供／美濃愛鄉協進會、林青峰、宋廷棟、鮑忠暉
開庄兩百多年的美濃，是傳統的客家鄉鎮，八成以上的人口是客家人。客家先民在清朝年間來到靈山、月光山山麓下屯墾，位居屏東沖積平原最北端，背倚美濃山脈，美濃溪蜿蜒流貫，澆沃出山、溪交會處的肥沃原野，翠綠田園間盡是美濃的人文風情，藍衫、油傘、菸樓點綴著客庄小鎮；常年豐沛的雨量、充足的陽光，孕育出山野間豐富多元的自然生態。
美濃溪上游雙溪匯流形成封閉的雙溪谷地，谷地間充沛水氣與蓊鬱林樹孕育出具豐富生態的「黃蝶翠谷」，最知名的，當屬群聚飛舞的銀紋淡黃蝶。
黃蝶群聚肇因於日治時代的植林政策，在雙溪谷地密集種植鐵刀木，作為槍托與鐵道枕木之用，鐵刀木為黃蝶幼蟲食草之一，因此吸引許多母蝶來此產卵，形成難得一見生態型蝴蝶谷。每年四月之後到夏季期間，是淡黃蝶的大發生期，即淡黃蝶最活躍的時節，在大發生期之前的降雨量越多，則當年蝴蝶數量就會越少，黃蝶翠谷還曾經有同一時間內五千萬之淡黃蝶飛舞的紀錄，但是因為人為開發等因素，谷地間黃蝶翩然起舞的盛況不若從前。
除了蝴蝶之外，雙溪谷地的自然生態更是令人讚嘆。美濃愛鄉協進會理事長劉孝伸表示，來到黃蝶翠谷，不能錯過豐富多樣的生物景致。
這裡曾經擁有銀紋淡黃蝶與無紋淡黃蝶密度最高的世界紀錄，據統計，黃蝶翠谷有一百六十餘種蝶類、九十餘種鳥類，如大冠鴦、五色鳥、樹鵲、小卷尾、翠鳥、紅嘴黑鵯、黑枕藍鶲、小灣嘴畫眉等，甚至瀕臨絕種的朱鸝、珍稀動物八色鳥，都藏身在茂密林樹間。在谷地清涼的空氣中，蟲鳴鳥叫不絕於耳，伴隨潺潺水聲，陽光下點點黃蝶穿梭枝椏樹梢，是享受美濃自然原野的最佳去處。
雙溪熱帶母樹林位於黃蝶翠谷旁，面積約七公頃，1935年日治期間為研究熱帶植物而設置的活標本林區，日本人從南洋群島、中南半島、澳洲、非洲與南美洲各地，引進的種類有270多種，現存的97種植物中，有27種是全台碩果僅存。漫步雙溪谷地林間，參天林木盤根糾結攔路而立、枝椏錯綜，鳥兒跳躍樹梢，一片自然和諧風景，清幽環境讓人忘卻煩囂。沁涼空氣與舒爽陽光，每到假日總是吸引許多民眾前來登山健行，享受汗水淋漓、深呼吸的暢快。