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  Butterfly Information
There are 96 informational link matches for 'Butterfly'.
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Butterfly
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More About Butterflies ...
A butterfly is a flying insect of the order Lepidoptera belonging to one of the superfamilies Hesperioidea (the skippers) and Papilionoidea (all other butterflies). Many butterflies have striking colours and patterns on their wings. People who study or collect butterflies (or the closely- related moths) are called lepidopterists

Unlike many insects, butterflies do not experience a nymph period, but instead go through a pupal stage which lies between the larva and the adult stage (the imago).

Egg
Larva, known as a caterpillar
Pupa (chrysalis)
Adult butterfly (imago)

Butterfly eggs consist of a hard-ridged outer layer of shell, called the chorion. This is lined with a thin coating of wax which prevents the egg from drying out before the larva has had time to fully develop. Each egg contains a number of tiny funnel-shaped openings at one end, called micropyles; the purpose of these holes is to allow sperm to enter and fertilize the egg. Butterfly and moth eggs vary greatly in size between species, but they are all either spherical or ovate.

Larvae, or caterpillars, are multi-legged eating machines. They consume plant leaves and spend practically all of their time in search of food. As they mature their skin is shed several times.

When the larva has eaten enough it will will form a chrysalis (Butterflies do not spin cocoons, moths do.) The larva usually moves to the underside of a leaf. To form a cocoon it spins a silk-like thread around itself. A chrysalis is formed by hardening bodily secretions. A larva completely covered by a cocoon or chrysalis is called a pupa. Inside its protective shell the larva will transform into a butterfly (or moth), a process known as metamorphosis.

The adult, sexually mature, stage of the insect is known as the imago. As Lepidoptera, butterflies have four wings, but unlike moths, the fore and hindwings are not hooked together, permitting a more graceful flight. A butterfly has six legs; the larva also has six true legs and a number of prolegs. After it emerges from its pupal stage it cannot fly for some time because its wings have not yet unfolded. A newly emerged butterfly needs to spend some time 'inflating' its wings with blood and letting them dry, during which time it is extremely vulnerable to predators.

Many species of butterfly are sexually dimorphic. Some butterflies, such as the Monarch butterfly, are migratory.

Butterflies are often confused with moths, but there are a few simple differences between them, including colour, habits, and pupating appearance. See the difference between a butterfly and a moth.

Butterflies live primarily on nectar from flowers. Some also derive nourishment from pollen, tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and dissolved minerals in wet sand or dirt. Butterflies are also pollinators.
Source: Wikipedia Read more about Butterflies
INFO LINKS
Three-tailed Bhutan Glory Butterfly
Yunnan Animal Museum
About Three-tailed Bhutan Glory Butterfly Read More
Two-tailed Bhutan Glory Butterfly
Yunnan Animal Museum
About Two-tailed Bhutan Glory Butterfly Read More
Karner Blue Butterfly
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered species report for Karner Blue Butterfly Read More
Butterfly
Iowa State
Tons of information on Butterflies Read More
Butterfly
Prairie Frontier
Excellent butterfly guide Read More
Mourning Cloak Butterfly
NatureNorth
The North American common name for this species, mourning cloak, refers to its resemblance to a traditional cloak worn when one was in mourning". Interesting narrative. Read More
Monarch Butterfly
National Geographic
Monarch Butterfly fact sheet and pictures; video clip Read More
Butterfly
Pelotes Island Nature Preserve
Life cycle of butterflies and moth. Good for school work Read More
Butterfly
The Butterfly Website
Frequently asked questions on butterflies. Good resource for school work. Includes questions like "How many kinds of butterfly are there? ". Sometimes page loads very slowly. Read More
Morpho Butterfly
Morpho Butterflies
Information on several species of morpho butterflies. Picture Gallery Read More
Blue Morpho Butterfly
Belize Hank
Beautiful slideshow about the life cycle of the morpho butterfly Read More
Blue Morpho Butterfly
WebExhibits
Why are the blue morpho butterfly's wings blue? Read More
Leaf Wing Butterfly
Animals Of The Rainforest
Brief description, taxonomic information, pictures, and links Read More
Morpho Butterfly
Animals Of The Rainforest
Brief description, taxonomic information, pictures, and links Read More
Owl Butterfly
Animals Of The Rainforest
Brief description, taxonomic information, pictures, and links Read More
Rajah Brooke Birdwng Butterfly
Animals Of The Rainforest
Brief description, taxonomic information, pictures, and links Read More
Ulysses Butterfly
Animals Of The Rainforest
Brief description, taxonomic information, pictures, and links Read More
Zebra Butterfly
Animals Of The Rainforest
Brief description, taxonomic information, pictures, and links Read More
Butterfly
Northamptonshire Wildlife
Nice picture gallery of butterflies Read More
Western admiral
Desert USA
Western admiral: Brief description and pictures Read More
Viceroy Butterfly
Desert USA
Viceroy Butterfly: Brief description and pictures Read More
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Desert USA
Western Tiger Swallowtail: Brief description and pictures Read More
Monarch Butterfly
The Wild Ones
Brief article about Monarch Butterfly Read More
Butterfly
Beal Early Childhood Center
Kid friendly site with information on different part of the butterlfy. "Tiny colorful scales cover the both sides of a butterfly's wings. Scales with different colors make patterns and designs on the wings". Read More
Karner Blue Butterfly
National Wildlife Federation
Categorized information about Karner Blue Butterfly Read More
Fender'S Blue Butterfly
National Wildlife Federation
Categorized information about Fender'S Blue Butterfly Read More
Butterfly
Paradise Jewelry
Beautiful butterfly image gallery and Butterfly links. Read More
Butterfly
Paradise Jewelry
Beautiful butterfly image gallery and Butterfly links. Read More
Blue Morpho Butterfly
Enchanged Learning
Brief narrative about the blue morpho butterfly Read More
Butterfly
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Picture gallery and brief narrative about various butterfly species Read More
Swallowtail Butterfly
Amazing insects
short narrative/pictures Read More
Monarch Butterfly
Amazing insects
short narrative/pictures Read More
Red Admiral Butterfly
Amazing insects
short narrative/pictures Read More
Mourningcloak Butterfly
Amazing insects
short narrative/pictures Read More
Painted Lady Butterfly
Amazing insects
short narrative/pictures Read More
Buckeye Butterfly
Amazing insects
short narrative/pictures Read More
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