Butterflies Cliparts

Butterflies And Moths
Butterflies(order Lepidoptera) go through complete metamorphosis, from egg through larval and pupal stages. As adults, they feed on the nectar of flowers, sucking this food in through their long grooved mouthparts or proboscises.

When fully opened, the wings of some butterflies and moths are very broad. The wingspans of the largest species, such as the beautiful Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) and birdwing butterflies(family Papilionidae) of Southeast Asia, can be 10 inches(25cm).

There is enormous variety in the wing patterns of butterflies and moths. Some are drab and dull, but this makes the insect blend in with its background and prevents the birds that prey on it from spotting an easy meal.

Other wing patterns are very vivid and showy, often with spots that look like eyes on the wings. Flashing these eyespots startles birds and other predators and often gives the insect time to escape. Some brightly colored species, such as the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) of North America, are poisonous to other animals. The colours act as a warning, and predators soon learn to steer clear.




The colour on moths' and butterflies' wings comes from the thousands of tiny scales which cover their surfaces. The wings of some species have a metallic sheen and colours that change with the angle of the light reflecting off them. This shininess is not caused by the colour of the scales themselves, but by the fine structure of their surfaces. A similar effect is created when light is reflected by oil floating on water.



The beautiful colours of butterflies' and moths' wings come from tiny scales covering their surface. When fully opened, the wings of many species are very broad.