Butterflies are always associated with spring and beauty. These insects are incredibly beautiful and diverse. Did you know that this small creature can reach speeds of up to 12miles per hour? And there are some species that reach a mark of 50km per hour (31miles per hour). Here is a list of most amazing facts about butterflies:
- The largest night butterfly is Attacus Atlas. Its wings have a span of about 30cm (11.8inch) and it’s often confused with a bird. The butterfly has an unusual pattern: on the main velvet-brown background there are pink divorces and transparent triangular patterns. These butterflies live in territory from East India to New Guinea.
- The most enduring butterfly of the world is called "Monarch". It can overcome a distance of a thousand kilometers (miles) without stopping.
Butterflies need solar heat in order to fly.
The butterfly lays its progeny in one place for many years.
Butterflies never sleep.
In some countries of Asia and South America butterflies are considered a delicacy.
Butterflies try food while standing on it. It’s because their taste sensors are in legs.
The smallest butterfly in the world is a moth "Acetosis" from England and Canary Islands. The wingspan is about 2mm (0.07inch) and length of a torso is same.
Butterflies can see green, yellow and red colors.
Butterflies do not hear, but they can feel the vibration that works best when it’s necessary to hide from predators.
Some species of butterflies, like Red Admiral, prefer to eat rotting fruit and manure.
The most complex organ is eyes. They consist of 6 thousand tiny parts, which are called lenses.
Basically most butterflies have a short life - just a few days. However, there are insects with a rather long life cycle. For example, Brixton butterfly is a long-liver, its cycle lasts up to 10 months.
In the tropical woods of New and Old World there are butterflies, the males of which feed by tears of animals.
The only continent where butterflies do not live is Antarctica.
References:
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Monarch-Butterfly
https://www.monarch.org.nz/species/butterflies/red-admiral-bassaris-gonerilla-kahukura/
http://zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org/2015/03/15/19-fascinating-butterfly-facts/
