5.19.2009

Butterfly


Did you know that butterflies are found on all continents except Antarctica?

Beautiful butterfly exhibits are held every year at at The San Diego zoo and Wild Animal Park

Butterfly or moth: what's the difference?
Technically speaking, butterflies are types of moths. But there are some ways to tell them apart. Butterflies generally have long, smooth antennae that are rounded on the ends, while most moths have thick, feathery antennae. Moths also tend to have larger, fuzzier bodies than butterflies. Most moths fly at night, while most butterflies fly during the day. Because of when they're active, butterflies tend to be more colorful than moths, but that's not always the case. You can see another difference when they're resting: most moths flatten their wings out over their bodies, while most butterflies raise them up and against each other. And although both butterflies and moths develop in a chrysalis, most moths also spin a protective cocoon. When people talk about this family of insects in general, they may use "butterflies" or "moths" to describe them, and both are considered correct.


Fun facts
• In some places, the number of caterpillars feeding on plants is so large that you can actually hear them munching.
• The Asian vampire moth lives up to its name! It has a tough proboscis to break through thick-skinned fruits, but sometimes it also sucks the blood of water buffalo or deer.
• Many adult butterflies never excrete waste—they use up all they eat for energy!
• "Puddle clubs" are groups of butterflies that gather at mud puddles and wet soil to suck up salts and minerals.
• Butterflies can see red, green, and yellow, but they also see color in the ultraviolet range, which reveals patterns on flowers—and other butterflies—that we can't see.
• Some Arctic moths may spend 14 years as caterpillars, only active a few weeks each summer.
• Butterfly wings are actually clear—the colors and patterns we see are made by the reflection of the tiny scales covering them.

Thank you San Diego Zoo/Animalbytes for the above info!

24 comments:

Small City Scenes said...

Very interesting. Lovely Butterfly and good info. MB

Blind Fly Theater said...

Velly intadesting ;)
David

Small City Scenes said...

So where will you be in Washington? Enjoy while you are here. MB

Walker said...

Great post, excellent!

Leeds daily photo said...

They may be transient but I really enjoy seeing butterflies and I am sure there were more when I was a boy. Great photo.

Halcyon said...

How did you get this wonderful photo? Beautiful! I can't ever catch flying things like that.

Lois said...

Beautiful picture and fascinating information. Thanks!

Alex said...

Hi nancy, this looks national geographical material, great shot.I love nature photos. see ya.

Lowell said...

Great photo and excellent commentary -- some of those facts I did not know!

Thanks!

Frank de Jol said...

Excellent shot !!!

Nathalie H.D. said...

What a beautiful shot!
I visited the San Diego zoo a long time ago - thinking about it, it must have been 25 years ago.

Thanks for your visit in Avignon. If you're in Provence in September and come this way, please let me know. Wouldn't it be fun to share a drink?

Nancy said...

You got it Nathalie!

Cezar and Léia said...

Oh I'm double envious now! I want to visit this Zoo in San Diego and visit France too! I think I want "everything"good in life... ;-))
anyway, I wish I could take so gracious picture of a butterfly like you!
God bless you dear Nancy! I'm so happy for you!
Léia

Sharon said...

Stunning photo!!

Sam said...

Absolutely beautiful picture. And interesting info as well!

Barb said...

Oh Nancy,love,love,love this pic.I could sit and watch butterflies for hours, I try to plant things in my yard to entice them to hang around.Thanks for your prayers for my niece she went home last night and is doing well they have a nurse coming by everyday the next week.Have a wonderful day....Barb

That is the chicken said...

Great shot. I just saw an article on the rare checkerspot butterfly here in Canada...fascinating to know that only antarctca doesn't have butterflies.

tapirgal said...

And thank YOU for the info! That was fun. Nice picture, too!

gogouci said...

That's a beauty. Photo quality is something you'd find in a butterfly guide.

Babzy.B said...

lovely shot !

Sasha said...

Beautiful photo! I love butterflies. Thanks for the info on them.

Moda Hip Hop said...

I love your blog!!.
Thanks

Totally Random Blogger said...

Nice pic :)

VanityofVanities said...

"Many adult butterflies never excrete waste—they use up all they eat for energy!"

Wow! So resourceful, huh. :)

Cheers,
Cathy@digitizing service