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Butterfly
Basics
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Definition:
A Butterfly is any of the various insects from the order Lepidoptera. Butterflies
characteristically have slim bodies, knobbed antennae, and four broad wings,
which are generally colorful.
What’s in a Name?
The
scientific name given to Butterflies and moths is Lepidoptera. This word
comes from the Greek word lepis meaning scale and pteron meaning wing.
It is the scales on a butterfly’s wing that give them their beautiful coloration.
The common name “butterfly” is believed to have originated in England.
The early English thought that the yellow color of the early spring Brimstone
species looked very similar to the color of the butter that they churned.
Hence the name “butter-fly”.
Did You Know…?
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Certain species of butterfly will use their front pair of legs to taste
their food.
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The Monarch butterflies can fly as fast as 30 miles per hour when they
are alarmed.
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A butterfly’s entire life cycle can last between 2-8 months, depending
on the species.
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The average time -table for the life cycle is 1) Egg- 7-10 days, 2) Larva-
3-4 weeks, 4) Pupa- 7-10 days, and 5) Adult- 3-4 weeks.
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Butterflies will hang from the undersides of leaves, or will find crevices
in between rocks and other objects to squeeze into during bad weather.
They will also seek out these places at night when they go to sleep.
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Butterflies do not have lungs, they breathe through their bodies!
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There are more than 100,000 species of known butterflies and moths so far.
This makes them the second largest order of insects.
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The Western pygmy blue is the smallest butterfly, and is only 1/8 of an
inch long.
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The biggest butterfly is over 11 inches long.
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Female butterflies are often larger than the males.
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The antennae of male moths are usually more elaborate than that of the
females.
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Like reptiles, butterflies are ectothermic (cold-blooded).
Life
Cycle:
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1) Egg: a butterfly generally attaches it’s egg onto leaves, stems,
or other objects near food that the caterpillar will eat when it hatches.
Eggs are laid either singly or in small clusters. The egg itself is tiny,
and is round, oval, or cylindrical in shape. Usually the egg has fine ribs
on it as well as other microscopic structures. This stage will generally
last 7-10 days.
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2) Caterpillar (or larva): The caterpillar is a long worm-like larva.
Caterpillars often have interesting patterns on their bodies, and may even
have spiny hairs growing in them. Once a caterpillar has emerged from it’s
egg, some species will eat the shell of the egg. Caterpillars begin consuming
their host plant right away. Rapid growth occurs throughout this entire
stage. The caterpillar will even shed its skin at least four times while
it is growing. This stage usually lasts between 3-4 weeks.
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3) Chrysalis (or pupa): During this stage the caterpillar forms
a chrysalis around it’s body. Inside the chrysalis the caterpillar transforms
into a butterfly. This stage usually lasts 7-10 days.
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4) Adult (or butterfly): In it’s adult stage the butterfly attempts
to reproduce. During this final stage the butterfly may also migrate or
colonize new habitats. This stage lasts about 3-4 weeks, depending on the
species.
What Do We Eat?Butterflies
and moths in their larval form (caterpillars), usually feed on plants.
Although some have 
been
known to eat fabric and stored grains. Several species are extremely selective
about which plants they eat. Some may only eat one species of plant in
their entire lifetime. Adult butterflies normally feed on nectar from flowers.
Some don’t eat at all!
How We Affect the
Ecosystem: Butterflies can affect ecosystems positively
because the provide food for so many other animals, including; birds, insects,
bats, and spiders. They are also important in maintaining controlled plant
growth. However, they can be harmful, especially in their larval stage.
Caterpillars in large numbers can be detrimental to crops. In general the
damage done by moth and butterfly larvae is very minimal.
Insect Info
Did
You Know…?
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There are over 1 million known species of insect in the whole world. Not
to mention those that have not been discovered yet! Some researchers estimate
that there might be as many 9 million insects that remain undiscovered
as of yet.
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The largest order of insects is the Beetles (Coleoptera ). There are 125
different families, and about 500,000 species in this order. There are
so many beetles in the world that one out of every four animal species
on the planet is a beetle!
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Anywhere that you travel on land you can find some insects living there.
Insects can be found in the soil, in the air, on and inside of plants,
and …on and inside of you!
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Brine Flies (Ephydra) are some of the most adventurous of the insects!
They can be found living in some of the strangest of places! The larva
of Ephydra hyans can be found living in Mono Lake, in California,
which is almost as salty as the Dead Sea! The larva of Psilopa petrolei
can be found living in pools of crude oil in California. The adults and
larva of Scatella thermarum live on and beneath the surface of hot springs
in Iceland. The water found in these springs can be as hot as 48 degrees
Celsius, which is generally too hot for humans to touch.
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The Acteon Beetle (Megasoma acteon) from South America is the bulkiest
of all the insects. The males can be 9cms long by 5cms wide by 4cms thick.
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The True Wetas from New Zealand can weigh up to 70 grams.
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The longest insect in the world is the Stick –insect Pharnacia kirbyi.
The females can grow to be over 36cms long.
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Some lepidoptera can have wingspans of 32cm, and an area of over 300 sq
cms.
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The North American Feather-winged Beetle Nanosella fungi is only 0.25mm
in length!
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4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
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Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Phone(719)633-9925 Fax (719)633-2254
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