 Food: Butterflies primarily feed on the nectar from flowers. Some butterflies extract their food from the pollen, tea sap, rotten fruit, dung and dissolved minerals from wet soil.
Pollination: Butterflies are important pollinators for some species of plants. They are better known to carry pollen to a large distance.
Proboscis: Butterflies extract their food through the proboscis, a long snout like organ that remains coiled when not in use. They sip the nectar, which provides energy through its sugar content. Several species require sodium more than the necter, which they get from mud puddling. Males are known to be the mud puddler. The males transfer the sodium to the females during mating along with the spermetophores.
Antennae: Butterflies sense the air for scents using their antennae. There are various shapes and colour of antennae depending upon the species.
Eyes: Butterflies have compound eyes like other insects. These eyes are sensitive to ultra-violet rayes. Experiments have shown that butterflies can distinguish between colours.
Migration: Butterflies like the Monarch and Emigrants are known for migration. Monarch butterflies are known to migrate for long distances. They are known to navigate using time compensated sun compasses. They can see polarized light and therefore orient even in cloudy conditions.
Basking: Many butterfly species are known to bask under sunlight to gather heat in order to regulate their body temperature. |
