Butterflies

Why do we call them Butterflies? One story has it that the British called them this because they looked like little pieces of butter fluttering

around in the woodlands.

What is a Butterfly

Butterflies are insects. They have a hard outer covering with 3 main parts to their bodies, the head, thorax and abdomen. They have 3 pairs of jointed legs all attached to the thorax.

Stages of Life

A butterfly has 4 stages to its life. A butterfly starts as an egg. It hatches in about 5-10 days. The tiny caterpillar will begin to eat and as it gets bigger, it will shed its skin 4 - 6 times. In about 2 - 4 weeks it is full grown and transforms into a pupa. This is when the butterfly attaches itself to a plant and weaves a patch of silk there and then grabs hold of the silk with its rear prolegs. During this stage, the body structure will change into one of an adult. In 10 - 15 days the butterfly will emerge as an adult. This whole process is called "metamorphosis" or "change of form." Often the first meal is its own eggshell. Sun is extremely important for both butterflies and flowers. Butterflies need sun to keep their bodies warm enough so they can fly. Only when their body temperature is about 85 to 100 degrees can they fly well.

Butterflies hibernate in tree crevices, under bark, on log piles or in the nooks of buildings.