Eh???? What is this blue marker with number 11??????? I never in my life saw a butterfly marked in a butterfly house - including the ones at Burger's mangrove.
I have no clue what the marker is supposed to mean, it could be a way to track butterflies I guess, but as far as I know butterfly wings are very fragile.
Next time I visit the Mangrove I'll ask around!
The marked butterflies are used in behavioural research, for example in research about which feeding spots they like to use, which parts of the Mangrove they frequent etc. The butterflies are marked when they are still in the pupae cabinet, so damage to the wings is minimal.
Thanks korhoen! I saw a S. stelenes inside the pupae cabinet, and certainly is unmarked as the remaining butterflies of the whole pavilion. Maybe even is the same individual than in this photo, but before being marked!!