 |
|
 |
 |
||||||||||||||
Moths and Butterflies
Phylum: Mandibulata (Arthropoda) Class: Hexapoda
 |
 |
 |
| Butterfly | Skipper | Moth |
Lepidoptera include the insects we commonly refer to
as the butterflies, skippers, and moths. All adult Lepidoptera have bodies
and wings covered with scales, large compound eyes, and mouthparts that
are fused into a suctorial proboscis designed to suck up flower nectar,
fruit juices or other liquids. The most obvious differences between them
are in antennae and behavior. Moths generally are plainer and have
hairier bodies than butterflies. They hold their wings horizontally and
have fringed antennae. Many moths are nocturnal, flying only at
night, but many tropical moths are large brightly colored day fliers.
Butterflies are usually large, brightly colored dayfliers. They
have clubbed antennae and hold their wings vertically. Skippers were once
considered butterflies, but because of their hooked antennae, small size,
and hairiness are probably more closely related to moths.Skippers often
hold their front pair of wings at an angle to the horizontally held back
pair. Lepidoptera are often identified to species by the veins and color
patterns on their wings. The bright 
wing
patterns are due to the tiny colored scales that cover the wings. Butterflies
lose 
scales
as they age. Over-handling butterflies will cause the scales to fall off
prematurely, which can greatly affect their ability to fly and survive.
Caddisflies (Trichoptera) also
have scaled wings and are probably the closest relative to the Lepidoptera.
All Lepidoptera have holometabolous development, which means the eggs hatch into larvae that must pupate and metamorphose into an adult that looks very different from the larval caterpillar. Caterpillars are phytophagus, with most feeding on all parts of the plants. Often caterpillars are species specific feeders, and will only feed on one species or a few closely related species of plant. For example, monarch caterpillars only feed on plants in the milkweed family (Aesclepius). Usually the adults are less particular and feed on the nectar of many different flowers, or on fruit juice or other liquids.
Lepidoptera Diversity
Because of their great beauty, butterflies are some of the best studied animals in the world. Entomologists have described about 110,000 species of butterflies and moths, including 10,000 species from North America. Perhaps as many as 90% of the world's butterflies have been identified. Butterflies are more common in the tropical countries like Tobago where a continuous warm season ensures that both host plants for the larvae and nectar producing flowers and fruits for the adults are plentiful year-round.
Wisconsin Butterflies
Butterflies of Wisconsin This link will connect with an excellent site with pictures of many of the butterflies found in Wisconsin. Check back later for a key to the butterflies and caterpillars in the Cofrin Arboretum.
Importance of Butterflies
Butterflies
are an integral part of plant reproduction. Butterflies and the
flowers they feed on have evolved together over 150 million years as ecological
partners. The flowers have evolved colors, shapes, and nectaries
that attract and feed butterflies, but they also have evolved mechanisms
to dust the insects with pollen. Each time a butterfly moves to
a new flower it deposits pollen and ensures flowers will be fertilized.
Flowers are often tube shaped to accomodate the long butterfly tongues.
However, long flower tubes prevent short-tongued insects, like flies or
bees that do not transfer pollen from stealing the nectar.
Links
Biodiversity Topics: Introduction . Plants . Animals . Mammals . Birds . Reptiles & Amphibians . Arthropods . Spiders . Insects
© 2001-2004 The Cofrin Center
for Biodiversity and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay,
All Rights Reserved
Last
updated on
January 12, 2006