Page 1 of 2

butterfly
Insect belonging, like moths, to the order Lepidoptera, in which the wings are covered with tiny scales, often brightly coloured. There are some 15,000 species of butterfly, many of which are under threat throughout the world because of the destruction of habitat. One in eight of Europe's butterfly species are under threat, according to a 1999 survey. Of the 576 European species, 71 experienced a steady decline throughout the 20th century. In the period 198499, 20 of Britain's 56 resident species have declined in number. Butterflies have a tubular proboscis through which they suck up nectar, or, in some species, carrion, dung, or urine. Metamorphosis is complete; the pupa, or chrysalis, is usually without the protection of a cocoon. Adult lifespan may be only a few weeks, but some species hibernate and lay eggs in the spring. fritillary butterfly butterfly Mechanitis lysimnia

monarch butterfly larva

The largest family, Nymphalidae, has some 6,000 species; it includes the peacock, tortoiseshells, and fritillaries. The family Pieridae includes the cabbage white, one of the few butterflies injurious to crops. The Lycaenidae are chiefly small, often with metallic coloration, for example the blues, coppers, and hairstreaks. purple The large blue Lycaena arion has a complex life history: it lays its hairstreak eggs on wild thyme, and the caterpillars are then taken by Myrmica ants to their nests. The ants milk their honey glands, while the caterpillars feed on the ant larvae. In the spring, the caterpillars finally pupate and emerge as butterflies. The mainly tropical Papilionidae, or swallowtails, are large and very beautiful, especially the South American species. The world's largest butterfly red admiral is Queen Alexandra's birdwing Ornithoptera alexandrae of butterfly Papua New Guinea, with a body 7.5 cm/3 in long and a wingspan of 25 cm/10 in. The most spectacular migrant is the orange and black monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus, which may fly from northern Butterfly Web Canada to Mexico in the autumn. Site Butterflies usually differ from moths in having the antennae clubshaped rather than plumed or feathery, no 'lock' between the foreand hindwing, and resting with the wings in the vertical position rather than flat or sloping. Did You Know? The sensors on the feet of a red admiral butterfly are 200 times more sensitive to sugar than the human tongue.

file://C:\PROGRA~1\PHRS\Data\E0007485.htm

24/05/2013

Page 2 of 2

Did You Know? The caterpillars of some swallowtail butterflies deter predators by their uncanny resemblance to fresh bird droppings. Did You Know? The caterpillar of the Brazilian butterfly Eunica bechina does not waste its droppings. It glues them into a long chain at the edge of its leaf, and then uses this chain of droppings as an escape route if threatened by predator ants. Copyright Helicon Publishing Ltd 2000. All rights reserved.

file://C:\PROGRA~1\PHRS\Data\E0007485.htm

24/05/2013