Hobbies And Interests
Body
Butterflies, like many other insects, have their skeletons on the outside of their bodies. This is called the exoskeleton and it protects the body and stops it from drying out. The body is made up of three sections -- the head, thorax and abdomen. Butterflies have three pairs of legs, but in some species such as the monarch butterfly, the front pair are not visible as they are kept tucked up under the body. The wings of butterflies are covered in thousands of tiny scales, which creates the colors and patterns. When monarch butterflies in North America are born in late summer and early fall, they migrate south to warmer weather.
Lifestyle
The average life span for butterflies is one month, although this varies greatly depending on size and species. Some live for as long as 10 months. The weather and exposure predators also determine the length of a butterfly's life. Butterflies are cold-blooded creatures, so they need a warm climate in which to live. If they get too cold, they become unable to fly. Butterflies are found living all over the world, except for Antarctica.
Food
Butterflies taste with their feet. They use this skill to determine suitable leaves on which to lay their eggs, so the hatching caterpillars have something to eat. Butterflies have a liquid-only diet consisting of water, nectar and juice from fruits. They eat through a straw known as a proboscis. Monarch butterfly larvae (or caterpillars) eat milkweed, which gives them a horrible flavor to deter predators such as birds.
General Facts
There are an estimated 165,000 species of butterfly, although this figure varies depending on whether subspecies are counted. There is no agreed scientific difference between butterflies and moths. The distinction tends to be that butterflies are more brightly colored, and moths only come out at night. The smallest species of butterfly is the Western pygmy blue, which is about 1/2 inch across, and the largest is the Queen Alexandra birdwing, which is about 11 inches across.