Introduction of Butterfly:
Butterfly may be defined as the any of several thousand species of insects belonging to about six families (or more, in other systems of classification) constituting the subfamily Papilionoidea. Along with the moths and the skippers, they make up the insect order Lepidoptera. Butterflies are nearly worldwide in distribution.
Like those of moths, the wings, bodies, and legs of butterflies are covered with dust like scales that come off when they are handled. Unlike moths, butterflies are usually brightly or strikingly colored and are active during the day. Perhaps the most distinctive features of the butterfly are its club-tipped antennae and its habit of holding the wings vertically over the back when at rest.
The life cycle of the butterfly, like that of other lepidopterans, has four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chyrsalis), and adult (imago). The larva and adults of most species are plant eaters.
The true butterflies (Papilionoidea) are divided into families as follows: Pieridae , the whites and sulfurs, known for their mass migrations; Papilionidae, the swallowtails and parnassians (the latter sometimes considered a separate family, Parnassiidae); Lycaenidae, including the blues, coppers, hairstreaks, and gossamer-winged butterflies; Riodinidae, the metalmarks, found chiefly in the American tropics; Libytheidae, the snout butterflies; and Nymphalidae, called the nymphalid butterflies, the largest and most diverse family (divided by some authorities into several families), which includes such popular butterflies as the admirals , fritillaries, monarchs, zebras, and painted ladies.
Butterfly and Moth Anatomy:
Some of the anatomical features of butterflies and moths are shown in this illustration. Like all insects, they have a body with three main parts—head, thorax, and abdomen—and have three pairs of jointed legs on the thorax. Butterflies and moths are also characterized by their two pairs of large, scale-covered wings, and by mouthparts that form a long proboscis for sipping nectar.
Brimstone Butterfly:
Brimstone butterflies hibernate and emerge in spring. They are found throughout Europe along hedgerows and in woodland clearings and open countryside. They always rest with their wings up, the colouring and shape of which give them the appearance of leaves.
Copper Butterfly:
The copper butterflies derive their name from the copper colouring of the wings of most species. The undersides of the wings are usually less colourful and may be spotted with black to break up the outline and provide some camouflage.
Monarch Butterfly:
(Danaus plexippus), a familiar member of the milkweed butterfly family Danaidae (order Lepidoptera), distributed throughout the world but concentrated mainly in North, Central, and South America. The monarch's wingspan averages 90 to 100 millimetres (about 4 inches). The distinctive coloration of the reddish-brown wings, marked by black veins and a black border with two rows of spots, warns predators of the insect's bad taste. The edible viceroy butterfly mimics the monarch's coloration and pattern.
In North America thousands of monarchs gather in autumn, migrate southward (sometimes traveling more than 2,900 kilometres [about 1,800 miles]), overwinter (occasionally reproducing), and begin to return north in the spring. During the return journey the monarchs stop along the way, deposit eggs, and die. After hatching and maturing, the new generation continues the northward trip. The monarch caterpillar grows to a length of 45 mm (1 4/5 inches) and pupates as a pale-green, golden-spotted chrysalis.
Morpho Butterfly:
(family Morphidae) any of numerous very large tropical American butterfly species with dazzling iridescent wings, usually with a pronounced blue area. With wingspans that can reach 20 cm (8 inches), morphos are among the largest and most beautiful Central and South American butterflies, ranging from Mexico to Venezuela, Trinidad, Colombia, and Peru in forests from sea level to 1,400 metres (4,600 feet). Morphos soar effortlessly along roads, trails, and streams. Their flyways seem to function like roads for most individuals in a given population.
While not in flight, adult morphos tend to stay hidden on the ground with their wings closed, exposing only the drab undersides in an effort to foil birds like jacamars and flycatchers, which prey upon them. The bright blue coloration that distinguishes morphos is not due to blue pigment. Rather, it is the result of microscopic ridges on the butterflies' wing scales that scatter and reflect light. The generally duller-coloured females have broader, less graceful wings than do males.
Except for some morphos that rarely descend from the treetops, most adults feed on fallen fruit as well as mud and carrion. The females are most active at midday, searching for the right plants on which to lay their dome-shaped eggs. The larvae eat several species of leguminous plants, and each egg is laid singly on the underside of a leaf upon which the hatchlings will feed. The caterpillars live in a communal web and are mottled red and yellow, with black heads covered with irritating hairs. After attaining a third-instar length of 9 cm (3.5 inches), the caterpillar creates a light green oval chrysalis from which it will emerge as a butterfly. The life cycle from egg to adult is 115 days. Morphos are bred commercially for decorative use in items such as display boxes, jewelry, lampshades, and inlays.
Peacock Butterfly:
The conspicuous eyespot markings of the peacock butterfly, Inachis io, make the insect unmistakable. The butterfly uses its patterning in self-defence, opening its wings if threatened by a bird and attempting to alarm the attacker by turning the pattern towards it, and even making a noise by rubbing its wings together.
Viceroy Butterfly:
The viceroy (Basilarchia archippus, or Limenitis archippus) is known for its imitation of the monarch butterfly, which is distasteful to predators. Through this resemblance the edible viceroy (which can be distinguished by its smaller size and by a black transverse band on each hindwing) probably derives protection from predatory attack. Viceroy larvae feed on willow, aspen, and poplar foliage.
Sulphur Butterfly on Flower:
Sulphurs are common butterflies found in open, sunny areas in temperate regions. Many species are a buttery yellow colour and may have inspired the word “butterfly.”
Characteristics of a Butterfly:
Almost all butterflies have knobs at the end of their antennae, and when perched they usually hold their wings upright over their backs. Compared to moths, butterflies tend to have relatively slender bodies and colourful wings. Many butterflies are active during the day.