Los expertos del sector afirman que los insectos desempeñaron un pequeño papel en la espectacular reforestación del país, antes de ser reclutados para viajar a exposiciones de todo el mundo donde las criaturas animan a los visitantes de los museos a proteger las especies de sus propios patios traseros.

San José

Costa Rica has become the leading exporter of butterflies globally, supplying live specimens to exhibits and museums around the world. The industry began in the 1980s, coinciding with national efforts to reverse deforestation through regulation, incentives, and ecotourism. Companies like Costa Rica Entomological Supply (CRESS) export around half a million butterflies annually, supporting distributed farming models that provide livelihoods for local families.

The butterfly industry has contributed to the country's reforestation by encouraging less aggressive agricultural practices and fostering ecological preserves. Exhibits featuring Costa Rican butterflies aim to educate visitors about the importance of pollinators and inspire conservation efforts in their own communities. Experts emphasize the role of butterflies in ecosystems and advocate for practices such as planting native species and avoiding insecticides to support local populations.

Costa Rica es el mayor exportador de mariposas del mundo

Si alguna vez has entrado en una exposición de mariposas vivas en cualquier parte del mundo, hay una buena probabilidad de que algunas de esas mariposas vinieran de Costa Rica. Costa Rica es el mayor exportador de mariposas como país. Sergio Siles es el gerente comercial de Costa Rica Entomological Supply, o CRESS, ampliamente considerado como el primer exportador comercial de mariposas de toda América Latina. Según sus estimaciones, CRESS exporta alrededor de medio millón de mariposas cada año. Esto empezó a mediados de los 80, cuando la industria de las exposiciones de mariposas estaba empezando. En aquella época, sólo quedaba una cuarta parte de los bosques de Costa Rica tras décadas de de deforestación incontrolada. El gobierno intentó cambiar la situación mediante la regulación, incentivos financieros y ecoturismo. Y funcionó. Durante las dos décadas siguientes, los bosques del país volvieron a crecer. Y parte de ese mérito es de las mariposas. Es un modelo de agricultura distribuida. Tenemos muchas familias en todo el país, en lugar de dedicarse a otros prácticas agrícolas más agresivas, pudieron mantener a sus familias criando mariposas. Esta es Cristal Barantes de Piorella Garden. Es una reserva ecológica que empezó con las mariposas. Ah sí, mira, aquí hay pequeñas orugas diminutas que acaban de nacer. Estas son orugas de las mariposas búho. Empiezas con mariposas, pero si tienes visión y compromiso, puedes expandirte y hacer un trabajo de protección y conservación mucho más costoso. Todo esto, hace 30 años, en 1995, era sólo pasto para las vacas. No había nada. Pero ahora, gracias a las mariposas, esto es un bosque y es un refugio para muchas especies de animales. Por ejemplo, aquí tenemos más de 120 especies diferentes de aves. Cada granjero recoge las pupas de mariposa necesarias y se las entrega a Cress. A continuación, Cress las inspecciona, empaqueta y envía. En pocos días, las pupas llegan a las exposiciones de mariposas de todo el mundo, incluida la de Nueva York. Estamos en el Davis Family Butterfly Bavarium del Museo Americano de Historia Natural. Los visitantes pueden entrar e interactuar con las mariposas y, con suerte, obtener una mayor apreciación de su papel en el medio ambiente. Las mariposas son fascinantes. Son polinizadoras de muchas plantas que dependen de ellas, y también son un importante parte de la red alimentaria. En EE.UU., las poblaciones de mariposas están disminuyendo rápidamente, por lo que los conservadores esperan que fomentar el interés de la gente por estas criaturas. Si tienes algún tipo de espacio ajardinado, una cosa primordial a tener en cuenta es no utilizar ningún tipo de de insecticida. Plantando plantas nativas, vas a animar a venir a las especies locales que han evolucionado con las plantas nativas. Nos centramos en asegurarnos de que las mariposas puedan servir como embajadoras de la naturaleza, porque una vez que amamos la naturaleza, sabemos que tenemos que cuidarla.

The talk comes a day after President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine, Iran and other issues in a call the Kremlin described as "frank and constructive."

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy, Trump agree on joint defense efforts in phone call

Russia pummeled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin, officials said.

Russia hits Kyiv with largest drone attack after Trump-Putin call

U.S. President Donald Trump marked the passage of the new spending bill, which includes changes to food assistance, student loan programs, and clean energy credits. Robert Costa joins "CBS Mornings" to break down what's in the legislation.

Washington

Trump set to sign "big, beautiful bill"

More than 80 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Thursday (July 3), according to health officials, as Israel intensified its strikes, hitting a school-turned-displacement facility. CNN’s Paula Hancocks looks at the damage and humanitarian toll.

Jerusalem

More than 80 people killed in Gaza in one day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will do "anything" to advance EU accession talks. Zelenskyy spoke alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Ukraine will do 'anything' to advance EU accession talks: Zelenskyy

President Donald Trump said Washington will start sending letters to countries on Friday specifying what tariff rates they will face on imports to the United States, a clear shift from earlier pledges to strike scores of individual deals.

Global Tariffs

Trump: Letters telling countries their tariff rate going out Friday

Indonesian rescuers on Thursday (July 3) temporarily halted a search for 30 people still missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the island of Bali with the loss of six lives, the national search and rescue agency said.

Gilimanuk

Indonesia suspends search for 30 missing after ferry sinks near Bali

After marathon debate sessions in the Senate and House, President Donald Trump’s budget bill passed in the House. Republicans secured the biggest win of Trump’s presidency.

Trump’s landmark ‘big, beautiful bill’ narrowly passes U.S. House

Florida says the first group of migrant detainees have arrived at the new immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz." CBS News correspondent Shanelle Kaul has more.

Ochopee

First group of detainees arrive at "Alligator Alcatraz," Florida says

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday (July 3) that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he plans to hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman has more.

Trump speaks with Putin, plans call with Zelenskyy

CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez reports on a lawsuit from lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia alleging he suffered “torture and mistreatment” after he was wrongfully deported and held in El Salvador’s notorious mega prison.

Tecoluca

Kilmar Abrego Garcia claims he was tortured in El Salvadoran prison

The Kremlin welcomed the development, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov claiming it proves Western arsenals are being depleted and predicting that less aid will hasten the end of the conflict.

U.S. pauses military aid to Ukraine over depleted weapons stockpile

Two contractors employed by UG Solutions spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity as they were revealing their employers’ internal operations.

U.S. contractors say live ammo used at Gaza aid distribution site

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke for hours on the House floor about potential impacts of President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" that Republicans are looking to pass before July 4. Following debate, the House is set for a final vote on the massive budget bill.

House debates Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' ahead of final vote

CBS News political contributor Caroline Polisi joins "CBS Mornings" to break down the jury's verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial and the judge's decision to deny bail for the music mogul ahead of his sentencing.

Manhattan

Sean "Diddy" Combs denied bail after split verdict

Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota has died aged 28, just weeks after marrying his childhood sweetheart. The footballer passed away in a car crash in northern Spain.

Madrid

Liverpool soccer player dies in car crash 10 days after wedding

The Pentagon said that U.S. strikes 10 days ago had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, suggesting the U.S. military operation likely achieved its goals despite a far more cautious initial assessment that leaked to the public.

Tehran

Iran Strikes

Iran nuclear program degraded by up to two years: Pentagon

Days before his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama announced the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, will have the sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation, but China insists it will choose the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Lhasa

China rejects Dalai Lama’s succession plan

The U.S. Congress inched towards approving President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, despite attempts by Democrats to stop it. The bill is Trump’s signature legislation which includes massive spending increases on the military and immigration enforcement while slashing social programs.

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill nears approval

Sean (Diddy) Combs was found guilty on prostitution-related charges, but was acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking giving him a maximum sentence of 20 years. But the courtroom victory was subdued following a judge’s ruling to deny him bail.

New York

Diddy denied bail, avoids life in prison

President Trump says Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, but it remains unclear if Hamas will accept the terms. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Debora Patta has more.

Trump says Israel has agreed to Gaza ceasefire conditions

Bryan Kohberger changed his plea to guilty Wednesday for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. CBS News national correspondent Carter Evans has more on the case.

Boise

New details revealed as Kohberger pleads guilty for 2022 Idaho murders

The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down a state abortion law that was adopted in 1849 in a 4-3 landmark decision. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Madison

Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down 176-year-old state abortion ban

Macron and Putin held regular discussions around the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Macron visiting Putin in Russia in February 2022, but dialogue eventually stalled.

Paris

Macron held 'substantial' phone call with Putin

President Trump toured “Alligator Alcatraz,” a migrant detention center he teamed up with Ron DeSantis to build in the Everglades.

Everglades

Protesters gather around ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as President Trump visits

Jurors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal criminal trial said they have reached a verdict on four of the five counts, but they cannot reach a verdict on Count 1, which is racketeering conspiracy. The judge has instructed the jury to keep deliberating. Deliberations will resume Wednesday (July 2).

Jury reaches partial verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs case

The U.S. Senate passed the Republicans' reconciliation bill on Tuesday (July 1) after more than 24 hours of marathon voting on amendments. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.

U.S. Senate passes Trump's "big, beautiful bill"

The new order does not rescind existing sanctions on ousted longtime President Bashar al-Assad, his top aides, officials and family members who are accused of having committed war crimes and human rights violations against Syrian civilians.

Trump signs executive order lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria

Former criminology graduate student Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to killing four Idaho college students in 2022, a move that would spare him the death penalty under a deal with prosecutors, ABC News reported on Monday (June 30).

Moscow

Suspect in murders of four Idaho college students to plead guilty

Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, adding to mounting pressure on a government fighting for survival on multiple fronts.