Sense organs

Butterflies have faceted eyes like all insects. These eyes enable them to perceive optical stimuluses. Butterflies see their environment composed of many small, single pictures.

They perceive sounds with their ears on the side-thorax.

Butterflies taste with the proboscis and mainly with the feet which are covered with numerous sophisticated sense organelles. Species without proboscis only taste with their feet.


a butterfly's foot

   sense organelles

A butterfly's most sensitive sense organelles can be found on the antennae. These organelles enable some species to perceive pheromones (females' fragrances) from a distance of a few miles, even if there are only single molecules of pheromones in the air.

antenna

branches

                                              the branches are hollow to reduce weight


sense organelles