Learn English with the News: “The Butterfly Business”

Hello you!

Who would have thought that producing butterflies could be the start of a business? Well, Vanessa, a Columbian university student, decided to write her thesis on creating a unique business. After graduating, her mum and her opened Alas de Colombia (Wings of Columbia), a company which exports butterflies.

It’s such a great idea, don’t you think?

1. First read the text
2. Understand the vocabulary
3. Watch the video

Text

“In a Colombian valley previously ravaged by civil war, an insect is playing its part to add prosperity to new-found peace. A mother-and-daughter butterfly export business is sending thousands of the insects to the U.S. and Europe every month.

Patricia and Vanessa Restrepo run Alas De Colombia, one of only 19 companies in the world exporting butterflies. Vanessa Restrepo explains their appeal.

– We develop the entire reproductive process of the butterflies until the pupa stage, when we make a profit exporting it to butterfly exhibits in the United States and northern Europe. We have also developed a market in Colombia to sell adult butterflies.

Caterpillar eggs are collected every morning and when hatched, the worms are placed on plants to feed. The idea for the business came from Vanessa’s university thesis – to create a unique business. And after seeing a growing market for butterflies at nature reserves and exhibits Vanessa’s mom, Patricia, decided to join forces with her daughter. The two studied the butterfly market and the insects for three years before launching in 2001.

– We determined what species had more commercial demand. We established contacts with possible international clients and according to that, we started to breed the species they wanted depending on the quantities they needed.

The Mayans and the Aztecs considered the butterfly a lucky omen. And now the Restrepos are hoping the colorful insect will bring good fortune to their family and business.”

Vocabulary

Valley – an area of low land between hills or mountains.

Ravaged – to damage or harm (something) very badly.

Run – to direct the business or activities of (something). Many verbs in English have more than one meaning, like the verb “run”. The most common meaning is “to move with your legs at a speed faster than walking”, but it can also mean managing a business.

Appeal – a quality that causes people to like someone or something.

Exporting – to send a product to be sold in another country.

Pupa – an insect that is in the stage of development between larva and adult.

Caterpillar – a small creature that is like a worm with many legs and that changes to become a butterfly or moth.

Hatched – to come out of an egg : to be born by coming out of an egg.

Nature reserves – an area where animals and plants are protected and that has few buildings or homes.

Demand – a forceful statement in which you say that something must be done or given to you.

Breed – to keep and take care of animals or plants in order to produce more animals or plants of a particular kind.

Omen – something that is believed to be a sign or warning of something that will happen in the future.