Taiwan has been known for many decades as the “Kingdom of Butterflies,” due to the fact that almost 400 of the world’s 1400 butterfly species can be found in Taiwan. However, many years of exporting dried butterflies to collectors around the world, as well as an aggressive increase in road building and fruit growing, have caused a drastic decrease in the numbers and types of butterflies that can be found on the island. Moxa’s dedication to butterfly appreciation and research has gone a long way to reinforcing and restoring Taiwan’s status as the world’s Butterfly Kingdom.

The Moxa Foundation's dedication to this cause is reflected by the fact that Moxa employees oversee all phases of butterfly development. The life cycle encompasses the following five stages:

1. Egg Stage
   Did you often play outside when you were growing up? If so, then you probably remember seeing little bumps on the leaves of plants and trees. What you may not have known was that those little bumps are just the first stage in the life of a butterfly.
2. Caterpillar or Larval Stage
   You certainly remember those creepy crawly things—ranging from the beautiful to the macbre, yet all amazing in the potential they hide—called caterpillars.
3. Pupal Stage
   The pupal stage of butterfly development, in which the larva remains hidden inside a small cocoon, is one of the simpler great wonders that Mother Nature has to offer.
4. Emergence
   Starting with a small nibble to open the cocoon from the inside, the emergence stage of butterfly development is when we can witness how the caterpillar has metamorphosed into a magnificent flying creature.
5. Butterfly Stage
   The butterfly stage, undoubtedly the most joyful aspect of the develpment process, represents complete freedom—to float on the wind or search out others of the same kind, before contributing to the next generation of butterflies.