Lebanon’s Hima Network is a vital conservation system preserving biodiversity, ecosystems, and traditional landscapes through community-based protection. These Hima sites—spanning mountains, valleys, wetlands, and coastal zones—provide critical habitats for a diverse range of insect species, playing essential roles in pollination, decomposition, and ecosystem stability.
From butterflies and bees to beetles and dragonflies, the Hima reserves offer a safe haven for Lebanon’s rich insect fauna. Here’s a look at the fascinating bugs of Hima across Lebanon:
🦋 Butterflies: Pollinators and Indicators of Biodiversity
Lebanon is home to approximately 194 butterfly species, with 165 established species, 45 endemics or near-endemics, and 20 threatened species. Many of these butterflies thrive in Hima reserves, such as:
🌿 Hima Kfar Zabad & Anjar (Bekaa): A sanctuary for wetland species, attracting migratory butterflies.
🏞 Hima Fakiha (Northern Bekaa): Hosting endemic and threatened butterfly species that rely on native plants.
🌸 Hima Kayfoun (Mount Lebanon): The site of the Butterfly Garden, dedicated to conserving pollinators and native flora.
Some notable species observed across Lebanon’s Hima sites include:
🦋 Common Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) – A widespread butterfly, easily recognized by its bold black and yellow wings.
🦋 Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) – A migratory species that passes through Lebanon in large numbers.
🦋 Levantine Leopard (Cigaritis acamas) – A rare species found in dry, open landscapes.
🐞 Beetles: Soil Engineers and Decomposers
The Hima landscapes shelter a variety of beetles that contribute to soil health and nutrient recycling. Among the most notable are:
🪲 Procerus syriacus phoeniceus – A large ground beetle endemic to Lebanon, commonly found in Hima Fakiha and West Baalbek.
🪲 Dorcus parallelepipedus – The lesser stag beetle, playing a crucial role in breaking down organic matter in forested Hima sites.
🐝 Bees and Wasps: Guardians of Pollination
Hima reserves provide ideal conditions for bees, wasps, and other pollinators, playing a crucial role in sustaining Lebanon’s native plants, agricultural crops, and biodiversity. These insects are the unsung heroes of ecosystems, transferring pollen between flowers and ensuring the reproduction of plants that support wildlife, livestock, and human communities. Without them, entire ecosystems would collapse, leading to a decline in both wild plant species and food production.
The diverse landscapes of Hima sites, from coastal plains and wetlands to mountain forests and agricultural fields, support a variety of pollinator species, including:
🐝 Honeybee (Apis mellifera) – One of the most crucial pollinators, the honeybee plays a fundamental role in both wild plant regeneration and crop production. Lebanon’s orchards, vineyards, and wildflowers all rely on honeybee populations, which thrive in Hima Roum, Akoura, and Ras Al Maten due to the abundance of nectar-rich plants and pesticide-free environments.
🐝 Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) – A robust, cold-tolerant pollinator, commonly found in high-altitude Hima reserves such as Hima Fakiha and Anjar. Known for its buzz pollination technique, the bumblebee is particularly important for tomatoes, eggplants, and wildflowers that require vibration to release pollen.
🐝 Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea) – These large, metallic-blue bees are critical for the pollination of native trees and shrubs. Unlike honeybees, they use their powerful jaws to drill into wood, creating nesting sites in fallen logs and old trees—a behavior that benefits forest regeneration in Hima Tarchish and Qaytouli.
🦟 Paper Wasp (Polistes gallicus) – Often mistaken for a pest, this wasp species is a valuable predator of caterpillars, aphids, and other agricultural pests. Found across Hima reserves such as Hima West Baalbek and Kfar Zabad, paper wasps help naturally control insect populations while also pollinating wildflowers.
🐝 Mason Bees (Osmia spp.) – These solitary bees are among the most efficient pollinators, responsible for fertilizing fruit trees and wild plants in Hima sites like Anfeh and Ain Zebdeh. Unlike honeybees, mason bees do not live in large colonies but instead nest in cracks, holes, and mud walls, making them adaptable to a variety of habitats.
The survival of Lebanon’s wildflowers, fruit trees, and crops is directly tied to the presence of these pollinators. However, challenges such as pesticide use, habitat destruction, and climate change threaten their populations. By maintaining flower-rich habitats, limiting chemical pesticide use, and protecting nesting areas, the Hima network plays a critical role in securing the future of pollinators and the ecosystems they sustain. 🐝🌿
🦟 Dragonflies and Damselflies: Guardians of Lebanon’s Wetlands
Lebanon’s Hima reserves provide crucial habitats for dragonflies and damselflies, members of the order Odonata, which serve as indicators of freshwater ecosystem health. These aerial hunters thrive in wetlands, rivers, lakes, and ponds, where they play a dual ecological role—as fierce predators of mosquitoes and other small insects and as prey for birds, amphibians, and fish.
Hima sites with significant freshwater habitats, such as Hima Kfar Zabad, Anjar, and Qaroun, serve as important breeding and foraging grounds for dragonflies and damselflies. Some of the most common species found in these protected areas include:
🦟 Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) – A fast-flying, highly mobile species, this dragonfly is often seen patrolling streams, lakes, and ponds. Recognized by its dark brown body with bright blue markings, it is a voracious predator of mosquitoes and small flies. The species is a key feature in Hima Qaroun and Kfar Zabad, where it thrives in marshlands and slow-moving waters.
🦟 Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea) – Also known as the Scarlet Dragonfly, this vibrant red species is one of the most striking dragonflies in Lebanon. Preferring shallow pools and warm waters, it is frequently spotted in Hima Anjar and West Bekaa’s wetlands. It is territorial, often perching on reeds and aquatic plants before launching sudden aerial attacks on its prey.
🦟 Blue Emperor (Anax imperator) – One of the largest and most dominant dragonflies, this species patrols large bodies of water, including coastal wetlands and inland reservoirs. It is known for its powerful, continuous flight, often seen chasing down other flying insects. It has been recorded in Hima Kayfoun and Anjar, particularly near freshwater springs and irrigation canals.
🦟 Southern Darter (Sympetrum meridionale) – A small, agile dragonfly, commonly found near ponds and slow-moving streams in Hima reserves like Ain Zebdeh and Tarchish. Unlike other dragonflies, it has a gentler flight pattern and often perches on vegetation close to water.
The Role of Dragonflies in Ecosystem Health
Dragonflies and damselflies are bioindicators, meaning their presence or absence reflects the health of wetland ecosystems. Because their larvae develop in clean freshwater, populations of dragonflies in Lebanon’s Hima sites suggest that these areas retain high water quality and minimal pollution levels.
However, threats such as water pollution, habitat loss, and climate change endanger dragonfly populations. Draining of wetlands, pollution from agriculture, and reduced water flow in rivers and ponds can disrupt their breeding cycles and threaten entire ecosystems.
Protecting Dragonflies Through Hima Conservation
By preserving wetlands, riverbanks, and ponds, Hima reserves offer safe habitats for dragonflies and their prey. Conservation efforts such as:
✅ Restoring freshwater ecosystems to maintain clean, natural water sources.
✅ Reducing pesticide use to protect larvae and adult dragonflies.
✅ Increasing awareness about the role of dragonflies in controlling mosquito populations and maintaining biodiversity.
The continued survival of dragonflies and damselflies in Lebanon depends on strong conservation initiatives. Through the Hima network, these ancient insects continue to flourish, ensuring the balance of wetland ecosystems for generations to come. 🌿🦟
Photographs copyrights of Husein Ali Zorkot, Butterfly Garden Manager, SPNL
