WHY THESE WINGS? Butterfly wings aren’t just beautiful–their patterns and colors give them advantages that help them survive in the wild. Search for these wing features as you explore the exhibition. Draw a line to match the wing to its purpose. Hint: Some markings serve the same purpose!

When you are finished, turn this sheet over to learn more about the species on this sheet and how they use their wonderful wings.

BLACK PATTERNS NEAR BASE OF WING

CLEAR WINGS

BRIGHT RED OR ORANGE

NATURAL PATTERNS AND COLORS

TAILS

EYE SPOTS

CAMOUFLAGEMany insects avoid predators by blending into their surroundings. Which of these wings would be hard to spot against the plants, leaves and textures in this room?

CONFUSEMany butterflies have unique wings that make them confusing for predators to catch, find or follow. Which wing features might confuse a hungry predator looking for an insect to munch?

WARN Some butterflies want to be seen. Their hard-to-miss markings warn other animals that they are distasteful. What feature might serve as a warning?

WARM Butterflies are cold-blooded insects and must warm up before they can fly. Can you find a wing feature that would help a butterfly absorb more sunlight?

MONARCH BUTTERFLYMonarchs and other butterflies can often be seen “sunbathing,” or basking. Their dark bodies and wing bases help them absorb more sunlight to stay warm. Their bright orange color warns predators that they do not taste good.

What other species did you find with black patterns near the base of the wing? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

CLEARWING BUTTERFLYClearwing butterflies’ transparent wings provide camouflage by blending into their surroundings. Even their chrysalides are camouflaged. Their tiny silver or gold chrysalides could be mistaken for drops of dew.

Did you find a butterfly with clear wings? Did it have any other colors on its wings? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

POSTMAN BUTTERFLYPostman butterflies’ bright red markings warn predators that they taste terrible! Distinct colors, shapes and patterns also help butterflies to recognize one another.

What other species did you find with bright red or orange wings? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

ATLAS MOTHAtlas moths’ markings provide camouflage against bark and leaves. The “windows” break up their wide wingspread, making them appear smaller. These moths are some of the largest species of moths in the world, so blending in is extra important to help them stay hidden from predators.

What other species did you find with natural patterns and colors? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLYMany swallowtail butterflies have “tails” on their hindwings that confuse predators. A hungry animal might mistake a “tail” for a head and strike the back of the butterfly, allowing it to escape.

What other species did you find with “tails” on their hindwings? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

MORPHO BUTTERFLYThe eye spots on the underside of a Morpho Butterfly’s wings confuse predators, who might think they are looking at the eye of another animal. Morpho wings also have bright blue on the upper surface, causing them to flash in and out of a predator’s view when flying – another trick that makes the Morpho hard to catch!

What other species did you find with eye spots? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________