But when the hormone level drops, then the caterpillar "knows" that it's time to move on to the next stage. So how does the caterpillar know when it's time to change? Its brain produces a chemical called "juvenile hormone." As long as the level of this hormone in its body is high, it keeps eating, growing, and shedding. In fact, scientists still aren't sure exactly how it works! What we do know is that when a caterpillar seals itself into a chrysalis, chemicals are released from its body that change and rearrange all the cells to create the butterfly's new shape, including its wings. This process is called metamorphosis, and it has fascinated and perplexed people for centuries. One of the most incredible things about butterflies is the way they change from crawling caterpillars into winged beauties. Other butterflies are camouflaged to blend into their environment, and some are brightly colored to warn that they are poisonous. The big spots on an owl butterfly look like the eyes of a much larger predator, so a bird may think twice about attacking. The color of a butterfly can be for protection. Night-flying moths navigate by the moon and the stars, but when that light is not available, moths use magnetic “clues” from the Earth.Ĭolor me cautious. Some butterflies can also cover long distances, like the monarch butterfly, which can migrate 2,000 miles (3,218 kilometers) or more. A few can fly at great heights, as much as 10,000 feet (3,050 meters). But some, especially moths, have developed adaptations to raise their body temperature themselves, such as vibrating their wings to warm up the muscles.įlying fast, high, and far. The fastest butterflies are the skippers, which can fly at 37 miles per hour (60 kilometers per hour), but most butterflies fly at 5 to 12 miles per hour (8 to 20 kilometers per hour). Some butterflies that live in cold climates don’t migrate, and instead produce glycerol in their bodies, which acts like “butterfly antifreeze” to keep them alive during the winter.īutterflies are essentially cold-blooded, and many warm up for flight by sitting in a warm spot or basking in the sun. Quite a commute. Monarch butterflies are famous for their yearly migration, traveling up to 2,000 miles in 2 months to get from Canada and the northern U.S. Better yet, catch some luck by letting them land on you! Please look at these amazing creatures with just your eyes, not your fingers. Moth and butterfly wings are very delicate, and can easily rip or tear from the slightest touch. Some seem to shimmer this is caused by the way that light is reflected off the scales on its wings. The wings actually move in a figure "8" motion that pushes the butterfly through the air. The wings also contain a system of veins that circulate blood, and strong muscles on the butterfly's body move the wings up and down. These scales are the "dust" that comes off a butterfly wing as it brushes against leaves and flowers. They are covered with thousands of tiny modified hairs called scales that reflect the light, creating the extraordinary colors and patterns we see. These layers are so thin you can see through them. The main structure of the wing is made of thin layers of chitin, a protein that also makes up the outer "shell" of the body. Winging it. Do you know what butterfly wings are made of? They're actually pretty complex. And although both butterflies and moths develop in a chrysalis, most moths also spin a protective cocoon. You can see another difference when they're resting: most moths flatten their wings out over their bodies, while most butterflies raise them up and against each other. Because of when they're active, butterflies tend to be more colorful than moths, but that's not always the case. Most moths fly at night, while most butterflies fly during the day. Moths also tend to have larger, fuzzier bodies than butterflies. Butterflies generally have long, smooth antennae that are rounded on the ends, while most moths have thick, feathery antennae. The largest may reach 12 inches (30 centimeters) across, while the smallest may be only 0.12 inches (0.3 centimeters).īutterfly or moth? There are ways to tell them apart. There are about 165,000 known species, found on every continent except Antarctica, and they come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. These fascinating magicians are Lepidopterans-also known as butterflies, moths, and skippers. They drink from mud puddles and transform from caterpillars to fluttering adults. Their eyes are made of 6,000 lenses and can see ultraviolet light. They taste with their feet and have a suction tube for a mouth.
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