Bytom Exhibition Highlights Upper Silesia's Long Tradition of Butterfly Research
Butterflies have become symbols of nature's beauty, yet their scientific value often receives far less attention. The Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom is addressing that balance with Butterflies: Between the Beauty of Nature and Science, an exhibition that places more than a century of regional research alongside modern approaches to studying biodiversity.
Running until 18 October 2026, the exhibition examines how butterfly collections assembled in Upper Silesia continue to contribute to scientific research while documenting environmental change across the region.
A Regional Story Told Through Museum Collections
Upper Silesia may be better known for mining and heavy industry, but it also has a long history of lepidopterological research. Since the nineteenth century, researchers have recorded butterfly species across the region, creating collections that today serve as an important scientific resource rather than simply historical displays.
Specimens collected by figures including Paul Raebl, Sergiusz Toll, Father Paweล Wycisลo, Antoni Drozda, Zdzisลaw Stuglik, Marian Bielewicz and Andrzej Skalski now provide evidence of how local wildlife has changed over time. Together, their work documents species that once flourished in the region while helping researchers understand long-term changes in the natural environment.
From Field Notes to DNA Analysis
The exhibition follows the development of butterfly research from traditional collecting methods to modern laboratory techniques.
Historic specimens are presented alongside explanations of how DNA analysis is now used to confirm species, reassess historical identifications and improve scientific understanding of butterfly diversity. The comparison demonstrates that museum collections remain relevant long after they have been assembled, often providing material for research that was impossible when they were first created.
Recording Biodiversity Before It Disappears
One section of the exhibition focuses on species that have become exceptionally rare or are no longer found in parts of their former habitats.
Rather than presenting these specimens as curiosities, the exhibition places them within the wider discussion about biodiversity loss. Butterfly populations respond quickly to changes in their environment, making them valuable indicators of ecosystem health. Historical collections therefore provide an important record of species that may now be far less common than when they were first documented.
The exhibition also highlights the continuing role of the Upper Silesian Museum in preserving natural history collections.
Maintaining these collections ensures that future researchers can compare historical records with present-day observations, supporting ongoing studies into biodiversity and environmental change. In this way, the museum's work extends beyond preserving specimens to safeguarding scientific knowledge for future generations.
Rather than asking visitors simply to admire butterflies, the exhibition encourages them to consider the value of recording and protecting the natural world before it is lost.
Visitor Information
Exhibition: Butterflies: Between the Beauty of Nature and Science
Venue: Upper Silesian Museum, 34 Wojciecha Korfantego Street, Bytom
Exhibition Ends: 18 October 2026
Curator: Adam Larysz
Opening Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Wednesday: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Thursday: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
