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What is a Butterfly?

• Butterflies are beautiful, flying insects with Butterflies are beautiful, flying insects with large scaly wings. Like all insects, they large scaly wings. Like all insects, they have six jointed legs, 3 body parts, a pair have six jointed legs, 3 body parts, a pair of antennae, compound eyes, and an of antennae, compound eyes, and an exoskeleton. The three body parts are the exoskeleton. The three body parts are the head, thorax (the chest), and abdomen head, thorax (the chest), and abdomen (the tail end). (the tail end).

The butterfly's body is covered by tiny The butterfly's body is covered by tiny sensory hairs. The four wings and the six sensory hairs. The four wings and the six legs of the butterfly are attached to the legs of the butterfly are attached to the thorax. The thorax contains the muscles thorax. The thorax contains the muscles that make the legs and wings move. that make the legs and wings move.

Abdomen - The abdomen is the segmented tail area of an insect that contains the heart, Malpighian tubules, reproductive organs, and most of the digestive system.

Antenna - An antenna is a sensory appendage that is attached to the head of adult insects. Antennae are used for the sense of smell and balance. Butterflies have two antennae with clubs at the end.

Compound Eye - Insect compound eyes are made up of many hexagonal lenses.

Fore wing - The fore wings are the two upper wings.

Head - The head is the part of the insect that contains the brain, two compound eyes, the proboscis, and the pharynx (the start of the digestive system). The two antennae are attached to the head.

Hind wing - The hind wings are the two lower wings.

Leg - All adult butterflies have six legs. The two forelegs of some butterfly species are tiny.

Proboscis - Adult butterflies sip nectar and other liquids using a spiral, straw-like proboscis located on their head.

Thorax - The thorax is the body section between the head and the abdomen. The legs and wings attach to the thorax.

Abdomen

Antenna

Compound Eye

Forewing

Head

Hind wing

Leg

Proboscis

Thorax

A butterfly usually lays 200-500 eggs on plant leaves and stems. Eggs from different butterflies are different shapes and sizes. The caterpillars hatch from the eggs about 5 days later.

1. EGG1. EGG

The caterpillar is also called the larva. Caterpillars first eat their eggshell, then they eat lots of leaves. Each time the caterpillar grows, it needs to shed its old skin or molt. They usually molt 5 times. After a few weeks the caterpillar stops eating and growing and looks for a place to change.

2. Larvae

3. pupations

The caterpillar sheds its skin for the last time and becomes a pupa. The pupa stays inside a hard shell called a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the pupa is changing from a caterpillar's body to a butterfly's body.

The adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis after several weeks. The butterfly looks for another

butterfly to mate with. After mating, the female butterfly lays her eggs. Adult butterflies usually

live for only 2 weeks!

4. Adault Butterfly