Butterflies & Moths

Information about Butterflies:

Butterflies, along with moths, are invertebrates of the order Lepidoptera. They are mostly diurnal (active during the daylight hours.) These insects are holometabolous – otherwise known as complete metamorphism. This means the insect develops in four distinct life stages, usually beginning as an embryo or egg, then becoming a larva, a pupa the finally morphing into an adult. Generally all butterflies go through a cocoon or chrysalis stage, which they enter as a caterpillar and emerge transformed as a fully formed butterfly (this adult stage is also called an imago.)

The wings of the butterfly is actually made up of very small scales. The coloration of butterfly wings is created by minute scales. The scales are given their coloration by means of pigmentation with melanins – which are derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine. These scales hold a little loosely to the butterfly’s wing. They can come off easily, and if too many are lost the butterfly cannot fly. So it is recommended you don’t touch or handle butterflies as you may damage these minute scales, and the oils on your skins can also cause damage.