Colorful angels

The sky was cloudy, the wind was blowing, the flowers were moving in the breeze, and I was laying on the grass. Suddenly, I saw many flying butterflies; some of them were yellow and some of them were glittery blue. The questions start coming in my mind that from where these beautiful creatures came into existence? Why do they have different colors?

Let’s find out the answers together but first let’s know the main things about butterflies.

What is a butterfly?

Butterflies are present in an order called “lepodoptera”. It’s a Greek word “lepido” means “scale” and “ptera” means “wings”. Moths, butterflies and skippers are included in this order. As the name describes butterflies have scale wings.

Where did butterflies come from?

Once upon a time, there were no butterflies only moths were present. Some moths had issues in drinking so they evolved and developed straw-like mouths. Then bees came in and they were great pollinators so flowers began to produce more nectar. Nectar is a liquid that flowers produce. Then moths came and started drinking it. They became day flyers because during the day, flowers produce more nectar. Then moths changed their dull wings to shiny and colorful wings to attract mate and to avoid predators. And got the name of butterflies.

Isn’t it fantastic?

But why did all the moths not become butterflies?

Because it’s not necessary that every moth has to evolve. Organisms just evolved to survive and those moths were facing survival issues so they evolved. And more importantly, it’s possible that in future there will be a better theory of evolution of butterflies. Scientists are still working on it.

Mating

Butterflies mate to the same species as they are. The male butterfly can recognize the same species by watching the wing pattern and color of the female butterfly. When a male finds a mate he may fly closer to the butterfly__behind or above the female. Or the male does a dance to attract the female. If she is interested she may join him. Then male passes his sperm cell to the female by joining the abdomen. In the female’s egg laying tube, the egg cell fertilizes by sperm cell. The male butterfly often dies after passing the sperm cell.

Now let’s know how butterflies are born?

There are four stages in the butterflies life cycle called:

• Egg
• Larva
• Pupa
• Adult

After mating, the butterfly finds a safe leaf where she lays her egg. Along with the egg, she releases a glue-like substance that attaches her egg to the leaf. She can lay one egg or more than one but only few survive due predators and weather.

After 3 to 7 days her egg hatches and a caterpillar comes out. And it eats till it becomes ready to make a cocoon. The baby stays caterpillar for 2 to 5 weeks.

Then in the pupa stage, the baby makes a cocoon around it and stays in it for a few weeks or years.

Finally in the adult stage, a beautiful and eye-catching butterfly comes out. Adult butterflies survive for a week or two or for 18 months.

Now, let’s see from where butterflies get their beautiful colors

The beautiful brown or yellow color of butterflies come from a substance that is present in wings called melanin. It works the same as chlorophyll in plants that give plants their green color.

The color of the butterflies keeps on changing because of the reflection of sunlight on the wing’s surface more than once. This phenomena is called iridescence.

How do butterflies know where they are going?

They use the sun’s direction to find out where they are going. And on cloudy days, they use their sense organs to feel Earth’s attraction.

Do you know butterflies migrate?

Butterflies migrate because they are cold blooded insects. It means that they can’t maintain their internal temperature. So they need to move to a place where the temperature is 35° to 40° Celsius.

Conclusion

It looks like nobody has an easy life. Even butterflies have to go through a lot. But still they keep on moving and struggling, no matter what. Should we do the same? What do you think?