Butterfly Facts Show
Butterfly Physical CharacteristicsColor
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 View all of the Butterfly images! There are many different types of butterflies in the world, like swallowtails and monarchs. They come in all different colors, including blue, white, pink, and browns. The life cycle of each butterfly starts out as a larva before it finally morphs into a beautiful butterfly. Butterflies are found on every continent, except Antarctica. 5 Incredible Butterfly Facts!
Butterfly Species, Types, and Scientific NameButterflies are members of the Rhopalocera suborder. They are also members of the Arthropoda phylum and the Insecta class. All butterflies and moths are members of the Lepidoptera order. In ancient Greek, the word “lepís “ means scale while the word “pterón” means wing, so the scientific name aptly fits these insects. Butterflies are divided into 46 superfamilies and 126 families, but each completes the same life cycle. About 10% of the known 180,000 species of butterflies and months are alive today, with the greatest number of types found in Peru. Butterflies are divided into six families. The Hesperiidae contains about 4,130 species, including:
Another family of butterflies is the Papilionidae. These are often called swallowtails because there is often a small extension on their back wings. The caterpillars of these butterflies process an extra organ, called an osmaterium, that emits a foul smell as a defense mechanism. Members of this family that can be all different colors, including pink, include:
The next family is the Pieridae, and there are about 1,036 species in this family. These are found around the world, and most are brightly colored. They include the:
The next family is the Lycaenidae classification, and there are about 6,500 species in this subfamily. These small butterflies often have a metallic blue or coppery upper side, and they often live with ants who help to protect them and get a sugary substance needed to live from them. Members of this large subfamily include:
Another family of butterflies is the Riodinidae classification, although some classification schemes list them as a subfamily of the Lycaenidae family. There are about 1,500 species of these butterflies. These butterflies are small, and they may have a metallic color. Subfamilies include:
Once considered families with their own scientific names, the Nymphalidae classification of butterflies all have very small forelegs that are useless for walking. There are about 6,000 different species that scientists usually divide into 22 subfamilies, including:
Appearance: How to Identify ButterfliesButterflies are very diverse insects. They have a three-part body consisting of the head, thorax, and chest. They also have six legs and two antennae. Most have scales on their wings and hair on their legs. They have compound eyes that they can use to see very well. The biggest butterfly is Queen Alexandra’s birdwing, which is cared for by the staff at the Natural Museum of History in London. Its wingspan is about 10.7 inches. The smallest butterfly is the Western pygmy blue butterfly, which lives in California, Mexico, and Central America. Its wingspan measures about 0.5-inches across. Joolyann/Shutterstock.com Habitat: Where to Find ButterfliesButterflies live in many different types of habitats as they can be found on every continent, except Antarctica. You can find some butterflies in deserts while others live in rainforests. Some live where it is very hot while others live in more moderate climates. The highest number of different species of butterflies in the world is found in Peru. Many of them live in the Manu National Park, where over 1,300 species of butterflies have been recorded. Other countries with diverse butterfly populations, include Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador. Diet: What Do Butterflies Eat?Most butterflies have one or two hosts plants that they prefer to dine on. While most prefer to suck nectar out of plants as adults, some are carnivorous. For example, North America’s harvester butterfly eats only living wooly aphids. Other species get nutrients from decaying plants. You can often find these species in areas where there are monsoons. The butterflies, like the Gluphisia crenata, drink up the water. Then, they release the fluids through their anal glands. This allows them to get salts and amino acids that their bodies need to thrive. Even More Exciting Information About ButterfliesIf you would like to learn even more intriguing facts about butterflies, including how many legs they possess, how to preserve them, which butterflies are poisonous, and which flowers attract them most, check out the articles below!
View all 216 animals that start with B AZ Animals StaffAZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and -- of course -- pet owners who have come together to help you better understand the animal kingdom and how we interact. Butterfly FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)Are Butterflies herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores? Butterflies are Herbivores, meaning they eat plants. What Kingdom do Butterflies belong to? Butterflies belong to the Kingdom Animalia. What phylum do Butterflies belong to? Butterflies belong to the phylum Arthropoda. What class do Butterflies belong to? Butterflies belong to the class Insecta. Where do Butterflies live? Butterflies are found worldwide. In what type of habitat do Butterflies live? Butterflies live in quiet forests and pastures. What do Butterflies eat? Butterflies eat nectar, pollen, and honey. What are some predators of butterflies? Predators of butterflies include bats, frogs, small mammals, and reptiles. How many babies do Butterflies have? The average number of babies a Butterfly has is 100. What is an interesting fact about Butterflies? There are thought to be up 20,000 species of Butterfly! How many species of Butterfly are there? There are 12,000 species of Butterfly. What Do Butterflies Symbolize? Butterflies have different meanings depending on the culture. For many Christians, they symbolize new birth. In Ancient Greece, butterflies were seen as a symbol of purity and immortality. Some see butterflies as a symbol that they need to relax and get rid of heavy thoughts. Others see them as a sign that a loved one has come to lend a helping hand when a person is going through a tough time. What Are Three Interesting Facts About Butterflies?
What Is Special About Butterflies? Butterflies are among the world’s most colorful creations. Their wings are covered in tiny light-reflecting scales. When these scales fall off, then they often have areas on their bodies that look transparent. Do Butterflies Fart? Some butterflies use a process similar to farting to rid their bodies of excess water, through a process called mud puddling. This is especially common in species living where monsoons fall, and it is more common in males than in females. The butterfly takes in the moisture, which can be urine from other animals or water from decaying plants. Then, its body uses the nutrients from the water. The moisture that is not needed is forcibly expelled from the other end. Many species, such as the Gluphisia septentrionis, even fart at regular 3 second intervals. What Happens if You Eat a Butterfly? Eating one butterfly may give you an upset stomach, but it is not going to hurt you in most cases. Alternatively, eating a whole meal of nothing but these insects can make you very sick. What's the difference between butterflies and dragonflies? Dragonflies belong to a different order compared to butterflies, and most butterflies prefer to eat nectar. Dragonflies eat other insects. How to say Butterfly in ... Sources
What's the rarest butterfly in the world?They are the bay checkerspot, Fender's blue, crystal skipper, the Miami blue, Saint Francis' satyr, and the rarest butterfly in the world, the Schaus swallowtail, whose habitat is sadly found in the sprawling metropolis of Miami. Of all six species together, only about 3,000 remain.
Do butterflies have two hearts?Yes, butterflies and all other insects have both a brain and a heart. The center of a butterfly's nervous system is the subesophageal ganglion and is located in the insect's thorax, not its head. The butterfly has a long chambered heart that runs the length of its body on the upper side.
What is the largest butterfly in the world?Biggest butterfly: Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) Female Queen Alexandra's birdwings are the biggest butterflies in the world, boasting a wingspan of around 27 centimetres. The endangered species lives in the rainforests of northern Papua New Guinea and plays an important role in the ecosystem.
How many species of butterfly are there in the US?There are approximately 750 species of butterflies in the United States. As a comparison, there are some 17,500 species known in the world.
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How many species of butterflies are there in the world
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