Thursday Thirteen ~ Butterflies

Thirteen Things about Butterflies

1. A butterfly is an insect of the order Lepidoptera


2. Butterflies are termed as holometabolous insects, and go through complete metamorphosis.
   Egg
   Larva, known as a caterpillar
   Pupa (chrysalis)
   Adult butterfly (imago)


3. Butterfly eggs are fixed to a leaf with a special glue which hardens rapidly


4. Butterfly caterpillars have three pairs of true legs from the thoracic segments and up to 6 pairs of prolegs arising from the abdominal segments. These prolegs have rings of tiny hooks called crochets that help them grip the substrate.


5. Some caterpillars have the ability to inflate parts of their head to appear snake-like. Many have false eye-spots to enhance this effect. Some caterpillars have special structures called osmeteria which are everted to produce smelly chemicals. These are used in defense.


6. Butterflies are nested within the evolutionary tree of moths.


7. Their origins may date back to the Cretaceous Period, ending 65 million years ago.


8. Presently butterflies are classified in three superfamilies, Hedyloidea, consisting of the 'American moth-butterflies', Hesperioidea, consisting of the 'skippers' and Papilionoidea or 'true butterflies'.


9. Some butterflies have evolved symbiotic and parasitic relationships with social insects such as ants.


10. Butterflies are important economically as one of the major agents of pollination.


11. Butterflies feed primarily on nectar from flowers.


12. Several species of butterflies need more sodium than provided by nectar. They are attracted to sodium in salt and they sometimes land on people, attracted by human sweat.


13. Culturally, butterflies are a popular motif in the visual and literary arts.