Facts & Info About Butterflies
Increase your knowledge of Facts about
the Butterfly with some brief, but essential information &
fast facts about this popular insect. Important facts, data
and info containing details of the description, name
origins and habitat of Butterflies. Details of the size, height and
weight. Where they live and what they eat! Discover what
their lives are like! A mixture of Factual information
together with cool, fun, strange, amazing, weird and even
funny facts about Butterflies. A detailed Fact Sheet covering a
whole host of topics and Butterfly facts! Have Fun!
Description of Butterflies
The
Butterfly is described as an insect of the order
Lepidoptera. Butterflies alone are called Papilionoidea.
Butterflies characteristically have slender bodies, knobbed
antennae, six legs and four broad, usually colorful wings. The
thorax is the point of attachment for the two pairs of wings the
forewings and hindwings. The Butterfly has a segmented body in
which there are three body parts - a head, a thorax and an
abdomen. On the head are the eyes, antennae and proboscis -- the
long, flexible "tongue" used to sip nectar and other liquids.
The origins of the name come from their membranous wings which are
covered with tiny scales.
Species of Butterflies
There
are nearly 18,000 species of butterflies.
The order Lepidoptera consists of of four suborders
More than 98 percent of the species are in one, the Ditrysia,
which includes all the butterflies and higher moths.
Facts about the difference between Butterflies and Moths
Butterflies are day-flying whilst moths
generally fly at night
Butterflies have brightly coloured wings
Antennae - Butterflies always have threadlike antennae that have a
knobbed tip. Moths can have many types of antennae: feathery,
hairy or threadlike but always without the knobbed or clubbed
tips.
Facts about where Butterflies live and what they eat!
Butterflies are native to all continents
except Antarctica
The habitat of Butterflies are found in a variety of different
climate environments. They can be found in Tropical areas,
forests, marshes, rivers, swamps, meadows, farmlands and gardens
Butterflies sip nectar from flowers, juice from rotting fruit and
drink water
Basic Facts about Butterflies
The name of a male is referred to
simply as a male
The name of a female is referred to simply as a female
The name or offspring, or a baby Butterfly, is larva and
caterpillar
The collective name for a group of Butterflies is a flutter
Facts about the Size of Butterflies
The largest
butterflies (bird wings of Melanesia) have wingspans of up to 25
cm (10 inches)
The smallest (pygmy blues) wingspans are 1 cm (0.4 inches)
Facts about the life and
Metamorphosis of Butterflies
Butterflies undergo a series of
physical transformations known as metamorphosis
The lifespan - metamorphosis - of a
butterfly is in four stages which make up the full life cycle of
a Butterfly:
Egg
Larva
(caterpillar)
Pupa
(cocoon or chrysalis)
Adult
Butterfly
Females usually lay eggs on a plant
that will act as as food source for the larvae when they hatch
Larvae have cylindrical
bodies, simple eyes, chewing mouthparts. The larvae eat and shed
their skin continuously
Larvae grow to hundreds of times
their original size
Once fully grown the Larvae spin
cocoons and become Pupae (Pupa,cocoon
or chrysalis)
During the pupae stage
internal systems are reorganized and adult external structures
are developed
Metamorphosis complete the adult
butterfly breaks the pupal case and emerges
The butterfly expands its wings by
pumping blood into the veins of its wings
When the wings have dried and
hardened the blood is pumped back out of its wing veins leaving
the wings strong and light ready to fly
Cool and Fun Facts about
Butterflies
Some
fascinating information & facts about the Butterfly:
The average lifespan for an adult butterfly is just 20 to 40
days
The minimum lifespan of a butterfly is as little as three or
four days
The maximum
lifespan of a butterfly is six months
The English naturalist and explorer Henry Bates (1825–1892)
discovered Batesian mimicry
Batesian mimicry is a process in which edible butterflies have
evolved wing patterns mimicking inedible species and thus
gaining protection for themselves against predators.
Another mimic process has also evolved called Mullerian mimicry
in which several species fly together, sharing a similar
coloration but different markings thus giving predators fewer
patterns to remember
Some species possess eyespots that
draw the attention of enemies away from their vital body parts
to their wings
Butterflies sip nectar from
flowering plants then carry pollen from plant to plant thus
aiding plant reproduction
Diapause - In temperate habitats
butterflies enter an inactive stage, or diapause, during their
development thus avoiding severe weather conditions
Diapause may occur in each of the
life cycle stages - the egg, larval, pupa or adult
Male butterflies are often
attracted to females by the release of a powerful chemical from
special glands
Monarch Butterflies migrate
thousands of miles
Endangered Species
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
lists seventeen species of butterflies as endangered, two as
threatened.
An “endangered” species is one that is in danger of extinction
throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The Causes
of a species of insect becoming endangered are due to Habitat
Destruction, Introduction of Exotic Species, Disease, Pollution,
and Over exploitation. Endangered Species Organizations are
dedicated to saving and preserving the world's most endangered
wildlife. Interesting facts about endangered Species
Butterflies Facts and Information about Butterflies We hope that the selection of
Facts about Butterflies has provided you with the information you have
been searching for! A mixture of Factual information together with
cool, fun, strange, amazing, weird and even funny facts about this
amazing insect. A detailed Fact Sheet covering a whole host of
topics information and facts about Butterflies. We believe that the concise and fun
facts provided are full of interesting information about this popular
insect!
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