Beutelspacher’s Butterflies of Ancient

Mexico
by Hugo E. Ponce-Ulloa, M. Sc.

“Las Mariposas entre los Antiguos Mexicanos,” Butterflies of Ancient Mexico, is one of the few books
dealing almost exclusively with cultural entomology. It was published in Spanish by Dr. Carlos
Beutelspacher in 1988. This 103 page book was reviewed by Dr. Hogue in the Journal of the
Lepidopterists’ Society 44(2). 1990, 102-103. Hogue stated, “it brings together, in an aesthetic way, a
collection of images and information, demonstrating and documenting the multifarious ways that butterflies
and moths were woven into ancient Mexican Cultures. These range from transient and simple uses of the
lepidopteran form for adornment of pottery and in featherwork, to deeply religious symbolism hewn in
stone.”

On Beutelspacher’s Butterflies of Ancient Mexico

Mexico’s history reveals numerous examples of the profound knowledge held within ancient Aztec and
Mayan cultures. Insects were observed, studied and many times adored by these ancient Mexicans. Along
with the snake, the butterfly was one of the most frequently represented animals. Some researchers, like Dr.
Alfredo Barrera-Mar?n, Dr. Leonila V?zquez and Dr. Rafa?l Mart?n del Campo, are fascinated with
Mexico’s natural and social history, and have found interesting examples of cultural entomology within
writings, paintings and other cultural sources not destroyed by the Hispanic conquistadors. For many
centuries before the conquest, and until the Colonial and Independent periods, butterflies, crickets, fleas,
scorpions and spiders were studied by the Aztecs, Mayans, Chichimecs and other diverse peoples of
Mexico. Today, ethnic groups of Mexico still look to insects for explanations of life and death.
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One of the most prominent Mexican researchers is Dr. Carlos Beutelspacher, an entomologist or, more
specifically, a lepidopterist. In 1988, Dr. Beutelspacher wrote an extremely interesting and colorfully
illustrated book on the interpretations of butterflies by the ancient cultures of Mexico. Dr. Beutelspacher’s
love for butterflies is evident and one shared by many people. The following is a summary of his book,
“Las Mariposas entre los Antiguos Mexicanos” (Butterflies of Ancient Mexico) with the intent to provide a
“butterfly-view-look” and encourage the reader to seek out the original book.

The exquisite beauty of butterflies, the flowers they feed on, and the poetry-in-motion of flight were all
closely observed by the ancient Mexican cultures of the Teotihuacans, Mixtecs and, more recently, the
Cholultecs and Aztecs. Butterflies represented fire, soul, death, warriors, travelers and hummingbirds.

Codex Symbols

Ancient Mexicans were aware of lepidoptera life cycles and gave names to each phase. In the Nahuatl
language, the egg phase was named ahuauhpapalotl derived from the root ahauatli or amaranth, for its
similarities with the seeds of this plant. The larvae was named ocuilin. Some country regions like Ocuil?n
(caterpillar land – Estado de Mexico, to the SW from Mexico City) are similarly named. The pupae, or
cocoon, was known by the word cochipilotl that means pending “piloa” sleeper “cochi.” For the imago
(adult), people used – and in some regions use to this day-the generic word papalotl for all butterflies.
Other words find lepidopteral derivation. For example, papaloquelite composite plant, Porophyllum
macrocephalum. Papalote are wide sheets used in Mexican cuisine. Place names like Papaloapan
(Veracruz) meant butterfly’s river. Local butterfly species, habits and appearance resulted in variations on
these words and other word combinations.

Stamp Collection 1

Dr. Beutelspacher points out that these people were not only warriors. They had an extensive art culture,
were prolific poets, and the butterflies were a component of many poems and songs.

Beutelspacher discussed two very important goddesses. He dedicated Chapter VI to Xochiquetzal and
Chapter VII to Itzpapalotl. Xochiquetzal was the goddess of love, flowers, vegetation and fire.
Xochiquetzal means beautiful “quetzalli” flower “xochitl” and was probably a representation of the species
Papilio multicaudatus, Western Tiger Swallowtail, a very common butterfly in the central Mexico. This
goddess protected artists, handicraft-workers, painters, public-women and houseworkers. This goddess has
sometimes been associated with the hummingbird although Beutelspacher provides several arguments
supporting a butterfly-like divinity.
The goddess Itzpapalotl – obsidian “itztli” butterfly “papalotl” – Beutelspacher associates with the species
Rothschildia orizaba, a Saturniid silk moth. This divinity was the mother-goddess of Chichimec, substituted
for Xochiquetzal when the Aztecs dominated this ethnic group. She was a strong and ferocious goddess
with butterfly wings and big claws on her hands and feet. Similar to Xochiquetzal’s hummingbird
symbolism, Iztpapalotl was also represented by the royal vulture (Sarcoramphus papa), a species very
common in northern Mexico during the Chichimecan culture.

Many people in Mexico believe that somebody will die when a black butterfly stops at your door. This
butterfly is known as Micpapalptl from miquiztli, death (Ascalapha odorata). Another interesting butterfly
is Eucheria socialis. Its larvae makes a community cocoon on madro?a trees. The Nahuatl name for this
insect is tomazquipapalotl, from tomazquitle or madro?a. The people used the cocoons to make paper for
codex.

Clay Stamps

Butterfly representations are varied and adorned numerous substrates. The butterflies found on stone and
ceramics were often found among other figures and ranged from realistic to very stylized representations.
Butterflies adorned the outer ring of the Aztec calendar and represented the fire of snakes. Other
representations are found among the gold ornaments owned by high-ranking officials. Some wall-paintings
and murals displayed colorful butterflies which in some cases represent birds. Such paintings are found on
the walls of the Butterflies Temple of Teotihuacan. Dr. Beutelspacher demonstrated that the real name for
this temple should be the be Quetzal Temple. The butterflies were present on codex, and in two isolated
cases, on wood and feather-made art (plumeria).

Dr. Beutelspacher interpreted the 11th book of chronicler Sahag?n’s 16th Century “Historia general de las
Cosas de la Nueva Espa?a” in which the primary butterfly group is Papilionidae, with some cases of
Nymphalids, Saturniids and others. Beutelspacher makes corrections to other authors’ interpretations of
ancient representations of butterflies or others animals confused with this insect.
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In conclusion, this book is recommended reading for entomologist, archaeologist, biologist and for all
people who love or want to know more about insects, ancient Mexico or gain general knowledge.