The
luna moth, Actias luna
Minibeast Profiles: Butterflies and Moths
by Gary A. Dunn, M.S., F.R.E.S., Director of Education
Butterflies and moths have fascinated humans for a very long time. Just about every human culture, past and present, has produced myths, legends, stories, and poems about these beautiful insects. The butterflies and moths (order Lepidoptera) are the second largest group of insects with over 120,000 species worldwide (10,000 species in North America).
The adults of most butterflies and moths have two pairs of wings (a very few, like the cankerworm moth female are wingless). The wings (and bodies) are covered with a dense covering of flattened hairs, or scales; these scales are the "dust" that appears on your fingers when you handle a butterfly or moth. Generally speaking, butterflies can be distinguished from their moth cousins by coloration, antennal structure, wing posture, and daily activity patterns. Butterflies are usually brightly colored, have slender antennae with clubbed tips, hold the wings more-or-less upright at rest, and are active during the day. Moths, on the other hand, are usually drably colored, have broad, feathery antennae, hold the wings horizontally or folded flat over the back, and are active at night. There are exceptions to these guidelines (such as day-flying moths and drab butterflies), but usually you can readily distinguish butterflies from moths based on these characteristics.
The
luna moth, Actias luna
All butterflies and moths pass through complete metamorphosis with separate egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. The eggs of butterflies and moths are highly variable and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. The eggs may be deposited singly, in small groups, or in large masses. The female butterfly or moth takes great care in selecting a site to deposit her eggs. The survival of her caterpillars will depend in great part upon her selection of the proper food plant. If the eggs are placed on the wrong plant the caterpillars will starve to death!
The caterpillars of butterflies and moths are generally long and cylindrical (kind of worm-shaped) with three distinct body sections. There are three pairs of jointed legs attached to the thorax and two to five pairs of fleshy prolegs on the abdomen. Caterpillars have big appetites and as a result they usually grow very rapidly. After several weeks of growth they change into a pupa. The pupae of moths are frequently covered in silk and are called cocoons. The pupae of butterflies are naked and are referred to a chrysalides. While in the pupal stage the caterpillar takes on the form of the adult butterfly, and after a sufficient period of development, emerges into the world. If all goes well, the new butterfly or moth will find a mate, and the life cycle will continue.
Many butterflies (and some moths) are beneficial to humans because they help people. For example, they aid in production of fruits and vegetables by pollinating flowers, they serve as food for many birds and animals, and they have aesthetic and entertainment value for some people. Human fascination and amazement with butterflies and moths has been the origin of many legends, fables, and superstitions. They are considered good luck charms in many countries. Butterflies have been the inspiration for designers of gliders, toys, wallpaper, draperies, as well as storytellers, writers and poets. Very few butterflies are harmful to humans because their caterpillars damage crops and other valuable plants..
Because of people's activities and destruction of butterfly habitats, some butterflies have become rare, threatened, endangered, and even extinct. The Xerces blue butterfly is the first butterfly in North America to become extinct due to human activity. About a dozen species of butterflies in the United States are currently listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened or endangered. Around the country many other species of butterflies and moths are considered at risk by state conservation departments. To increase awareness about the importance and value of butterflies, some states have adopted official state butterflies.
Tiger swallowtail butterfly
REFERENCES
If you are interested in learning more about butterflies and moths, I recommend the following books:
For more complete information on butterflies and moths, including butterfly gardening, visit the Y.E.S. Butterfly and Moth World website.
| This educational resource was prepared by the Young Entomologists Society, 6907 West Grand River Ave., Lansing MI 48906-9131, phone/fax 517-886-0630, e-mail YESbugs@aol.com. Support minibeast youth education - join Y.E.S. today! |