They use green net traps baited with rotting fish and fermented bananas to catch the butterflies.

The traps, which blend in with the forest canopy, have a pungent odor.

A team of researchers catches and documents various butterfly species, marking most for release.

Some are kept for further study, potentially representing new species.

However, the team's findings are concerning as butterflies serve as "bioindicators" of ecosystem health, and their numbers have significantly decreased, according to biologist Maria Fernanda Checa.

While the number of species may not have declined by more than 10%, the absolute number of butterflies has decreased by approximately 40-50%.

This decline is a cause for alarm.

Expedition leader Elisa Levy and her team carefully examine captured butterflies for bioindication purposes.

These insects, with their vibrant colors and various patterns, play a crucial role in pollinating three-quarter of human food crops.

Their service is valued at billions of dollars.