Butterflies 🦋🦋
Everyone knows how beautiful butterflies are but how well do you know them?
Butterflies are beautiful insects and are nearly everywhere in the world. They are classified into different families. They possess certain patterns and colours depending on their specie.
They have large compound eyes, two (2) antennae and an exoskeleton. They have six (6) jointed legs and three (3) body parts; head, thorax and the abdomen like all other insects.
They have four (4) wings and not two (2) as it appears to the eyes. This is to say that they have four (4) separate wings. The wings closest to its head are called the forewings while those in the rear are called the hindwings.
Their wings are transparent and covered in thousands of miniature scales. The colours you see are a reflection of colours through the scales. The wings are made up of a protein called Chitin which is the same protein that forms an insects exoskeleton.
Their wings are their best protection. Their wings serve as a defence mechanism either to blend with the surroundings or to frighten predators.
As beautiful as this creature is, they live for only but a few weeks. For an adult butterfly, the average lifespan is three to four weeks. Though the entire life cycle can last between two (2) to eight (8) months. They have a short lifespan hence the need to reproduce.
Male butterflies have a small black spot on the top surface of the hindwing while female butterflies do not. Males also have slightly thinner wing veins.
Butterflies have a liquid diet. They use their proboscis to drink nectar or some other liquid variation of liquid sustenance.
"They also prefer to feed in the sun."
Their feet are used for tasting. The taste receptors help the butterfly locate the right plants and the key nutrients it needs for survival.
Another interesting fact...
Butterflies are attracted to certain colours. Butterflies are attracted to white, red, yellow, orange, pink and purple but they dislike blue and green.
Interesting right?
I enjoyed it as well...
👍🦋