My Page About BUTTERFLIES!

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               A butterfly is a type of insect that is in the order called Lepidoptera, along with moths. They have a very interesting life cycle. This cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. 

           Different Types of Butterflies

           There are six different types of butterflies. One type of butterfly is called Hesperiidae, which is also called a skipper butterfly. The Hesperiidae is a small, brownish butterfly, that hops from flower to flower.

           Another type of butterfly is called Lycaenidae, which is also called a gossamer-wing butterfly. The Lycaenidae is a small butterfly that is sometimes hard to find.

           Another type of butterfly is called Nymphalidae, which is also called a brush-footed butterfly. The Nymphalidae make up the largest family of buterfly. Other names for this kind are: fritillaries, checkerspots, ladies, crescents, commas, and tortoiseshells.

           Another type of butterfly is called Palilionidae, which is also called a swallow-tail butterfly. The Palilionidae is the primary butterfly in this family. These butterflies are characterized by the apendages on the bottom of their wings.

           Another type of butterfly is called Pieridae, which is also called whites and sulfers. These butterflies are easy to see and the most common of these is the Cabbage White Butterfly.

           The last type of butterfly is called Riodinidae, which is also called metalmarks. The Riodinidae are small, brown butterflies that are found in the Southwest.

            The Butterfly's Body  

          The butterfly has many parts of the body. One part of the body is the antennae, which they use as a nose, to sniff the air around them. Another part of a butterfly's body is the thorax. The thorax contains the muscles needed to operate the wings and the legs. Another part of the body is the proboscis, which is their tongue. They also have an abdomen. The abdomen is a body part that the male and female use to mate.

          The Butterfly's Diet

          An adult butterfly drinks liquids to maintain their water balance and their energy supply. This diet helps them survive, mate, and lay eggs. Most adult butterflies sip flower necter, but others can sip liquid from the flowers on trees, rotting fruits, bird droppings or animal dung. Decaying fruit is helpful for butterflies because it gives them sugar, which is useful as carbohydrate for butterflies.

          The Butterfly's Predators 

              wasps                               snakes                              birds                                      toads                                lizards

               The Butterfly's Habitat

           You can find butterflies in lots of different places. You can find them in wetlands, meadows, wood's edge, rainforests and an urban garden. Unfortunately, many of the natural habitats of butterflies are being destroyed by the elimination of weeds and native grasses from yards, chemical pestisides, parks and roadways. Butterflies are usually found under rocks or leaves. They do this because this helps them hide from predators. familyu

          Butterflies never stay in the same place. They migrate from different places. Butterflies can fly from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of over 2,000 miles, every winter and come back in the spring.

            The Butterfly's Life Cycle

            Egg

           The egg is the first stage of a butterfly. Butterfly eggs are very small and can be round, oval or cylindrical. Females lay their eggs on or near plants, that will later become caterpillar food.

            Larva

            The larva is the second stage of a butterfly. The larva hatches from the egg. Butterfly larvae are called caterpillars. Caterpillars spend most of their time eating, and do most of their growing as a caterpillar. Food gives them the energy and materials they need to grow and develop. A caterpillars exoskeleton can't stretch or grow.

            Pupa

            The pupa is the third stage of a butterfly. When a caterpillar is finished growing, it forms a pupa. From the inside of a pupa, it looks as if the butterfly is resting but actually, it is still growing. Most of its organs and other body parts dissolve and re-form into organs, tissue, limbs, and wings of the adult. These pupae are called chrysalises.

            Adult

            The adult is the last stage of a butterfly. When the pupa has finished changing, it molts and emerges as an adult. The adult emerges with its wings folded up against its body because it has been crammed inside the chrysalises. The butterfly then pumps blood into its wings to expand them. This stage is also when butterflies mate and reproduce. When they do, females lay their eggs on plants or other surfaces. When those eggs hatch, the cycle will start again for those who have hatched. 

               link to a similar wiki page about siders

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/3-22-2005-67457.asp author: Sonal Panse3/23/2005

               http://www.buzzle.com/articles/butterflies-diet-what-do-butterflies-eat.html Soqorika Tiku 7-23-08

               http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Facts_About_Butterflies Marve Audit

               http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly

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