southern sonora Archives - Explore Sonora

Armed Vehicle Robbery at Empalme “Only Sonora” Station

Sonora newspaper El Imparcial reported that two SUVs were stolen at gunpoint from tourist families in the early morning of last Friday outside the Only Sonora station in the municipality of Empalme.

The tourists from the United States arrived at the station in the early morning hours of April 19 to get Only Sonora vehicle permits to visit Southern Sonora.

At approximately 6:00 a.m. a group of armed men arrived at the station and stole the SUVs, a Jeep Cherokee and a Lincoln Navigator, at gunpoint. Neither vehicle has been recovered.

Published reports described the robbery victims as “paisanos,” a term used to describe Mexicans who have legal residency in the U.S. and are visiting Mexico.

“Only Sonora” is a temporary vehicle importation program allows foreigners and Mexican nationals with foreign residency to obtain permits to take a vehicle into the areas of Sonora, Mexico not designated as a Free Trade Zone. Read more about Only Sonora.

Sonora Butterfly Refuge Restoration Project

Nature, Culture, Education and Traditions in El Júpare, Sonora

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The cuatro espejos butterfly conservatory in El Jupare, Sonora, Mexico

The Creadora de las Mariposas Cuatro Espejos is a butterfly conservatory, education center and cultural resource in the Mayo pueblo of El Júpare, Huatabampo, Sonora. Read more about the Creadora de las Mariposas Cuatro Espejos.

Four Mirrors (Rothschildia Orizaba) butterflies are large, beautifully decorated nocturnal creatures that are indigenous to Central and Southern Mexico, Central America and South America. They belong to the family of Saturnids, some of the most visually appealing butterflies, and are in the Lepidoptera class, which includes insects and butterflies with scales.

The butterflies have ribbed and symmetrically decorated wings in brown and gold tones, and in each quadrant there is a smooth square that reflects light like a mirror, from which they derive their name.

In the wild, the larva of the Four Mirrors butterflies are threatened by insects like flies and spiders, who lay their eggs in the cocoon a caterpillar has constructed. The parasitic eggs then feed on the protein in the chrysalis, killing the butterfly.

In addition to providing safe habitat for Four Mirrors butterflies, the Creadora de las Mariposas Cuatro Espejos provides a valuable educational resource to local students for nature and cultural learning, as it is a direct connection to the history, traditions, religion and culture of the Yoreme Mayo – its abandoned cocoons are used to create leggings for traditional dancers, and an economic stimulus to artisans and others in this small Southern Sonora agricultural community.

Damage from the break-in at he cuatro espejos butterfly conservatory in El Jupare, Sonora, Mexico

In September of 2016, the butterfly refuge was breached and burglarized. Most of its cocoons were stolen, leaving the facility without the ability to host more butterflies, help propagate the species, provide educational programs or create Tenabaris or other works of art.

Although its physical structure is still in good condition, the Crearadero has not recovered from the theft and has fallen into disarray. Plants that once provided sustenance and shelter to the butterflies have withered and died, and others have become overgrown.

Funding for the original construction of the conservatory was provided by El Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (Conaculta), Mexico’s federal agency that funds the arts. However, there is no money available to fund the needed tasks to restore the conservatory to functionality, and there are no local resources available to fund such a project.

Sr. Antolin Vazquez, project director for the conservatory restoration project

Damage from the break-in at the cuatro espejos butterfly conservatory in El Jupare, Sonora, Mexico

Traditional Mayo Pascola dancer and musician

Butterfly cocoons used to make the tenabari leggings worn by traditional dancers

Beautiful caterpillar of the cuatro espejos butterfly. Photo © Trinidad Vazquez Yocupicio

We believe that this butterfly sanctuary that is so important to the natural environment, religion, culture and economy of this community should be saved – restored and made functional again – and we hope that you do as well.

This campaign is to fund the first and largest phase of the restoration of the Crearadero de las Mariposas Cuatro Espejos butterfly conservatory, which will be accomplished in three phases.

Phase I

The first phase is to prepare the facility for the re-introduction of Rothschildia Orizaba butterflies, to include adding security structures to prevent future break-ins. This phase will be the most costly and labor-intensive of the project, and if we receive enough donations they may be sufficient to accomplish all three phases of the restoration.

It includes: consultation with a plant scientist to plan the restoration of the habitat and implement safeguards to prevent the entry of natural predators and hazards; clean the facility to remove dead plants, trim existing plants and add new plants; add an exterior perimeter security fence; and patch and repair holes in the exterior fabric.

Phase II

When the facility is ready, the second phase will be the reintroduction of the butterflies to the site by transplanting butterfly eggs.

Phase III

And the third phase is the full operation of the conservatory, to include maintenance and additional security. The goal is to make the facility self-sustaining at some point in the near future, but in the immediate time after the conservatory enters operational phase there will be a need for resources to fund services (maintenance, horticulturalist, security) and supplies.

We will report on the progress of the project, and if you have any questions or would like to contribute, please contact us.

Restoring a Butterfly Conservatory and Community Resource

Nature, Culture, Education and Traditions in El Júpare, Sonora

Traditional musician and Mayo Pascola dancers wearing tenabaris

Four mirrors - cuatro espejos - butterfly. Photo © Trinidad Vazquez Yocupicio

Butterfly chrysalis. Photo © Trinidad Vazquez Yocupicio

Creadora de las Mariposas Cuatro Espejos

This butterfly refuge and conservatory, “creator of four-mirrors butterflies,” is an important community resource for the indigenous Mayo residents of El Júpare, Huatabampo, Sonora, Mexico.

Inside the inactive butterfly conservatory

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The Creadora de las Mariposas Cuatro Espejos (creator of four mirrors butterflies) is a unique place in the Mayo pueblo of El Jupare, Sonora where butterflies thrive in a protected environment. It is a special nature refuge that helps to preserve nature and local customs while it provides an educational, cultural and economic resource for the community.

The four mirrors (Rothschildia Orizaba) are nocturnal butterflies that belong to the family of Saturnids, and the Lepidoptera order of butterflies with scales. Each butterfly has four distinct, smooth transparent squares that reflect light at different angles, giving them the appearance of having four small mirrors.

Unfortunately, in September of 2016 thieves ripped the special overlay material of the butterfly enclosure and stole its collection of cocoons. As a result, the lepidopterarium has not been functional, depriving local residents of the positive benefits they had received from the enclosure, and destroying a sanctuary where this beautiful and unique species of butterflies can survive.

A local group is working to restore the structure and add new inhabitants. It is a project that will also include building protective barriers and hiring a night watchman, in addition to restoring the functionality of the enclosure. Read more about the project.

The positive benefits of restoring this butterfly conservatory include:

Providing a sanctuary for these unique, beautiful butterflies, so they can propagate and live in a safe, controlled environment.

It serves as a center of nature and cultural education for local school students and university researchers. Children learn by observing the butterfly life cycle, from egg to caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly. They also grow awareness of the connection of these creatures with their own culture and heritage – the abandoned cocoons of the cuatro espejos butterflies are used to make the rattles worn as leggings by ceremonial dancers.

The sanctuary is also a local attraction for tourists, who can see and photograph the butterflies at various stages of development, and purchase products made by local artisans.

The butterflies have a very short lifespan, and after they die a natural death, the butterflies are used to create art and crafts. We are also researching opportunities to package and ship the butterflies for sale to distributors of natural sciences specimens.

And if you have any questions or would like to learn more about this project, please contact us.

Tenabaris, leg rattles made from the cocoons of butterflies and worn by traditional Sonoran dancers

The butterfly conservatory in El Jupare, Sonora, Mexico

Hotel Navojoa Plaza

Hotel Plaza Navojoa

Calle General Otero Norte 802
Colonia Reforma
Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico 85830
+52 (642) 425-9990

The Hotel Plaza Navojoa is conveniently located on the corner of Calle General Pesqueira (Mexico highway 15) and Calle General Otero in the city of Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico. It is on the way to the renowned colonial magic pueblo of Alamos, Sonora, and is a popular choice for Alamos travelers.

The hotel is next door to the Navojoa Sam’s Club, a short drive (or walk) from some of the city’s best places to visit, like Plaza 5 de Mayo, the Navojoa Municipal Market, and the Crown City Casino.

The Hotel Plaza has a lovely, relaxing pool area, and is within walking distance of several restaurants, including the restaurant and bar just across the street at the Hotel Sicomoro, which is also a location for the Navojoa Budget rental car agency.

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Hotel Navojoa Plaza - Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico

Lodging in Navojoa

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Plaza Juarez in Huatabampo

Plaza Juarez - Huatabampo, Sonora, Mexico

Plaza Juarez in Huatabampo, Sonora

Plaza Juarez is the cultural and social center of the Southern Sonora city of Huatabampo.

The plaza has a traditional bandstand-style kiosk at its center, with abundant shade trees and flowering plants. There is a snack bar at one end, lots of benches to sit and relax on, and a sitting area with picnic tables and a statue of children playing at its center.

In short, it is a very comfortable place to sit, relax and enjoy a conversation.

One one side of the plaza is the historic Palacio Municipal (city administration building), with its beautiful traditional design and interior murals. Across the street is the Iglesia Cristo Rey, a lovely church that is the religious center of the town. On the other side of the plaza is CafeTal, a very nice coffee shop and breakfast restaurant.