Sparkwing Butterfly

"If one lands on ya, it tingles and makes yer hair all spiky. It’s pretty fun… ‘till ya get zapped."
—Marie Holter, traveler

The Sparkwing Butterfly, also known as the Lightning Butterfly, the Thunderfly, and the Zapper Bug, is a butterfly found in mountainous regions all over Haven. Known for their ability to produce electric shocks and their signature glow, the Sparkwing Butterfly is both beautiful and dangerous. Their migration events are said to be among the most breathtaking natural phenomena across Haven, though it does bring with it numerous problems.

Characteristics

Appearance

The Sparkwing Butterfly is a good deal larger than most other butterflies, with a wingspan stretching larger than most people’s faces. Their wings are covered in bright lightning bolt patterns, forming intricate shapes that glow in the dark. It can even change the intensity of this glow, flashing it in brief pulses or maintaining a sustained glow. At its brightest, the glow can be seen from hundreds of meters away, bright enough to temporarily blind those who stand too close.

As a caterpillar, the Sparkwing Butterfly can grow to the length of a person’s hand, with a teal body covered in glowing spots. On its head are several antler-like protrusions that the caterpillar uses to discharge its signature electric shocks. Its body is also covered in thin, needle-like hairs that constantly stand on end due to the Sparkwing caterpillar’s constant emission of static electricity. While not poisonous, these hairs do provide a modicum of defense by prickling any predators who might try and attack its flanks.

Biology

The Sparkwing Butterfly’s body constantly emits a form of static electricity, though this is only noticeable should one get close enough to it. Objects of the right charge, such as pieces of metal, will find themselves becoming attracted to it, clinging to its body until its next discharge. Upon discharging its electricity, the Sparkwing Butterfly will have to wait until its body can build up enough power to produce another shock, which usually takes a few days.

As caterpillars, Sparkwing Butterflies feed on leaves of all shapes and sizes, growing fatter and larger with each passing day. Upon reaching adulthood, the newly-hatched Sparkwing Butterflies switch to a nectar-based diet, drinking from the flowers that dot the slopes of their mountain homes. During times when food is not readily available, it takes some of the nectar that it has gathered and crystallizes it within its body, storing it away so it may fall back on it in the event of a food shortage.

While the Sparkwing Butterfly’s electric shock isn’t very strong, only being lethal to creatures smaller than it or around its size, it becomes much stronger should many of them gather all at once. A large group of Sparkwing Butterflies are capable of combining their powers to create an electric shock strong enough to bring down a bear. However, the chances of something like this happening are quite slim since Sparkwing Butterflies rarely congregate.

During mating season, female Sparkwing Butterflies lay large clusters of eggs on trees that take around two weeks to hatch. One the eggs hatch, the Sparkwing caterpillars immediately set out for the closest plant, growing and molting over the following months. Once it has reached its maximum size, the Sparkwing caterpillar attaches itself to a branch and cocoons itself in a chrysalis. It slowly changes until it emerges a few weeks later as a butterfly, unfurling its new wings before soaring off to the closest flower.

Behavior

The Sparkwing Butterfly is quite skittish, flying away at the first sight of danger. If able, they deter attackers with a jolt of electricity before fleeing, paralyzing or outright killing their foes. However, it does tend to become relaxed in the presence of food, meaning that should one feed it, then the butterfly will tolerate their presence. But one must be careful to stay calm around it, as any sudden movements have a high chance of scaring the Sparkwing Butterfly into discharging its stored electricity.

Most of the time, Sparkwing Butterflies are solitary creatures, only coming together to mate or during a migration event. They primarily dwell in secluded areas such as small caves or hollows in trees, though this tends to put them into conflict with other animals seeking these places for their own. While an electric shock is usually sufficient to drive these intruders out, those who are more resilient find the Sparkwing Butterfly rather easy to beat once its power is drained.

Sparkwing Butterfly Migrations

While the Sparkwing Butterfly rarely leaves its mountain home, large cold fronts are known to force them to temporarily relocate to the south, flying off en masse to greener pastures. These migratory groups are easily located, appearing as thousands of glowing lights in the sky that many mistake for stars. The sight of so many Sparkwing Butterflies soaring through the night sky is regarded as one of the most beautiful sights on Haven, with many traveling far and wide just to get a look.

However, these migration events are as dangerous as they are beautiful. Should the Sparkwing Butterflies be provoked enough to discharge their combined electricity, the resulting lightning bolt might end up starting a wildfire. As a result, people are urged to stay as far as possible from the migrating Sparkwings to avoid startling them, though many people end up ignoring these rules to get the best look possible.

Notable Individuals

TBA