Spinning Tales about Butterflies

White peacock  - photo Brett Pigon

Butterflies are insects with fluttering wings, exquisitely painted by nature.  They are closely related to moths, but differences exist.  Butterfly antennae are commonly clubbed, and moth antennae are not; butterflies are smooth and slender, and moths are mainly stout and hairy; butterflies usually rest with folded wings, and moths usually spread them out.

Cycles of butterfly are  egg, caterpillar (larva), pupa (chrysalis), adult.  Usually eggs are laid on the underside of leaves on caterpillar host specific plants (monarchs prefer milkweed).  Before laying, butterflies taste these leaves to insure safety for forthcoming devouring caterpillars. They taste with their feet—their sense of taste is 200 times stronger than humans.  Eggs are fixed to leaves with special hardening glue.  Depending on region, more than one brood may occur yearly.  Among species, survival lasts one week to nearly a year. 

Queen  - photo Brett Pigon

Coloration is determined by overlapping of thousands of minute wing scales.  Certain butterflies display bright colors to proclaim foul taste and toxicity, transmitted by their caterpillars consuming toxic host plants.  For example, the brilliant orange migratory monarch and the vivid black and white striped zebra longwing, Florida’s state butterfly, deter predators.  For camouflage, some butterflies resemble leaves.  (Butterfly structural coloration—result of scattering of light by scales—inspires research in non-toxic paint!)

Zebra Longwing - photo Brett Pigon

Nectar is flight fuel for butterflies.  Because these insects see ultraviolet light, ultraviolet patterns on flowers guide them to nectar sources; antennae also detect nectar.   Preferable is nectar with amino acids; they stimulate more egg laying.  Often sought are blooms with deeply-hidden nectar—drawn with a long tongue (proboscis) that uncoils and simulates a straw.   Cluster flowers provide landing platforms.  Favorite colors are bright red, yellow, and orange like red penta, goldenrod, and butterfly weed.  Though not as efficient as bees, butterflies pollinate special plants, transfer pollen long distances, and contact many flowers. 

Two forewings and two hind wings enable flight.  Double antennae provide flight balance and orientation—with only one antenna, flight might be circular.  Well-equipped, butterflies hover and fly backwards and sideways at low speeds.  These seemingly erratic behaviors are in complete control!   Aeronautics engineers aspire to imitate butterflies, such as developing robotic spy insects.

Black Swallowtail - photo Brett Pigon

Approximately 700 species of butterflies inhabit the United States.  Butterflies are invaluable indicators of fluctuations in ecosystems.  For instance, change of habit signals climate variation, and discoloration might imply poor air quality.  Preserve butterflies; plant flowers!

Haiku by Hailey Scalia, 8, local conservationist: 

Butterflies flying

Symmetrical wings flutter

Beautiful insects

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - Brett Pigon

Monarch - photo Brett Pigon