
This week we are investigating the life cycle of a Butterfly.
We have researched some fun and interesting facts about them.
We have researched some fun and interesting facts about them.
- Butterflies are insects.
- A butterfly’s lifecycle is made up of four parts, egg, larva (caterpillars), pupa (chrysalis) and adult.
- Butterflies attach their eggs to leaves with a special glue.
- Most caterpillars are plant eaters (herbivores).
- Fully grown caterpillars attach themselves to a suitable twig or leaf before shedding their outside layer of skin to reveal a hard skin underneath known as a chrysalis.
- An adult butterfly will eventually emerge from the chrysalis where it will wait a few hours for its wings to fill with blood and dry, before flying for the first time.
- Butterflies can live in the adult stage from anywhere between a week and a year, depending on the species.
- Butterflies have four wings.
- Butterflies often have brightly coloured wings with unique patterns made up of tiny scales.
- Most butterflies feed on nectar from flowers.
- Butterflies taste receptors are on their feet.
- Scientists estimate that there are between 15000 and 20000 different species of butterfly.
- Birdwing butterflies have large, angular wings and fly in a similar way to birds.
- Monarch butterflies are known for their long migration. Every year monarch butterflies will travel a great distance (sometimes over 4000 km), females will lay eggs and a new generation of monarchs will travel back, completing the cycle
- http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/butterfly.html
- Check out the San Diago Zoo:
- http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/insects/butterfly