Butterfly Biology
Butterflies belong to the insect order Lepidoptera. The word "Lepidoptera" is derived from a Greek word meaning "scale wing." The butterfly wing scales create the wonderful colors and patterns observed in butterfly wings. There are 165,000 species of Lepidoptera worldwide, but of those, only about 24,000 are butterflies! Butterflies range in size from a tiny 1/8 inch to a huge almost 12 inches. Most adult butterflies only live one or two weeks. Adult butterflies use flower nectar as a food source. To obtain nectar, a butterfly's mouth (proboscis) is a long tube it keeps rolled up until ready for use, and is then used as a straw. Butterflies can see red, green, and yellow.
 The Butterfly Life Cycle
The transformation of the frequently ugly or bizarre caterpillar into an elegant butterfly - is truly one of the regularly performed miracles of Nature. All butterflies have "complete metamorphosis." To grow into an adult they go through 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Each stage has a different goal - for instance, caterpillars need to eat a lot, and adults need to reproduce. Because the caterpillar and adult eat different kinds of food, this helps the butterflies to better survive. Depending on the species, the life cycle of a butterfly (one generation) may take anywhere from about one month to an entire year.
Raise Painted Lady Butterflies
You can raise Painted Lady Butterflies from egg to
adult to learn all about the butterfly life cycle. Three
types of live butterfly raising kits are available in our
store. Watch the caterpillar's transition as it matures, changes into a chrysalid, and finally emerges as a Painted Lady butterfly! It is absolutely safe to release them into the environment. Each kit includes a colorful habitat, free certificate for butterfly larvae with special food, feeding kit and complete instructions.
Migration of the Monarch Butterfly
Have
you heard of migration of the Monarch
butterfly? The monarch
butterfly is one of the best known of all North American
butterflies because they make annual migrations across
America to avoid winter weather. In autumn, tens of
millions of Monarch butterflies fly south and roost in
huge numbers on trees in selected mountain areas of
California and Mexico. Monarch butterflies will use the
same trees year after year. The Monarch butterfly
migrates for 2 reasons. They can not withstand freezing
weather in the northern and central continental climates
in the winter. Also, the larval food plants do not grow
in their winter overwintering sites, so the spring
generation must fly back north to regions where the
plants are plentiful. Their journey can cover up to
2,000 miles before it ends! Would you like to help track
monarch butterfly migrations? Visit Monarchwatch
for lots of information on monarch
butterfly migrations with a color map, and also visit
the many websites listed below for tons of useful
information on the migration of the Monarch butterfly.
|
Butterfly Biology Links
Below are some Butterfly Life
Cycle and Monarch Butterfly links you will find helpful.
| Butterfly
Life Cycle Coloring Page |
FREE butterfly
life cycle coloring page for you to print out
and color in! |
| Berkeley's
Anise Swallowtails |
Lots of
pictures of the stages of the Anise
swallowtail butterfly life cycle with emphasis
on caterpillars and raising them, but many
butterfly pictures as well. One of the best
written and documented butterfly rearing sites
out there. Also fun to read!! |
| Captain's European Butterfly Guide |
Provides a series of pages with photos outlining the butterfly life cycle process from start to finish. |
| The Field Museum Butterfly and Moth Life Cycle |
Beautiful moth
and butterfly pictures with a description of
the butterfly life cycle. |
| Monarch
Butterfly Life Cycle Pictures |
Absolutely
wonderful pictures of all stages of a monarch
butterfly life cycle by William Zittrich. Over
20 pictures of eggs, caterpillars, chrysalis,
adults emerging and adult monarchs. |
| Life
Cycle Stages |
From
Wikipedia – very informative article with
lots of details about each of the 4 life cycle
stages of butterflies. |
| Monarch
Butterfly Biology and Migration |
A
gateway to news, information, activities, and
resources about the biology and conservation
of this fascinating insect. |
| MonarchWatch Biology |
Complete guide
to Monarch butterfly biology from the
butterfly life cycle to genetics, and great
pencil drawings and monarch butterfly
pictures. |
|
