When you think of butterflies, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the colorful flutter of wings, but there is so much more than initially meets the eye.
1. The wings of butterflies and moths are actually transparent:- The shining scales, which overlap like shingles on a roof, give the wings the colours that we see. Contrary to popular belief, many butterflies can be held gently by the wings without harming the butterfly. Of course, some are more fragile than others, and are easily damaged if not handled very gently.
2. Butterflies taste with their feet:- The taste sensors of butterflies are located in the feet, and by standing on their food, they can taste it. All butterflies have six legs and feet. In some species such as the monarch, the front pair of legs remains tucked up under the body most of the time, and is difficult to see.
3. Butterflies don’t have mouths that allow them to bite or chew:- Butterflies, along with most moths have a long straw like structure called a proboscis which they use to drink nectar and juices. When not in use, the proboscis remains coiled like a garden pipe. Some moths, like the Luna moth don’t have a proboscis. Their adult life-span is very short, and they do not eat. They simply seek a mate, reproduce, and then die.
4. A caterpillar grows to about 27,000 times the size it was when it first emerged from its egg:- If a human baby weighed 9 pounds at birth and grew at the same rate as a caterpillar, it would weigh 243,000 pounds when fully grown.
5. The butterfly doesn’t spin a cocoon:- The adult butterfly emerges from its cocoon. Moths spin cocoons of silken threads, often using leaves to help surround themselves. Caterpillars shed their final skin to reveal a pupa. The outer skin of this pupa hardens to form a chrysalis which protects and hides the amazing transformation that is occurring inside. Pupae take on a wide variety of appearances, depending on the species of butterfly. Some hang from beneath leaves or twigs. Others are girdled to the side of a stem much like a worker on a telephone pole. Some are smooth and shiny while others are rough and even spiky. Some are beautifully colored with dots and lines of gold while others are drab and barely noticeable. No matter what the design, the function is the same - to lessen the chances of being eaten by a predator and to increase the likelihood of producing an adult butterfly or moth.