10 Facts About Butterflies

Scaly Wings – The name “butterfly” comes from the tiny scales covering their wings, which create their vibrant colors and patterns.

Taste with Their Feet – Butterflies have taste sensors on their feet, allowing them to land on plants and "taste" them to find suitable food or a place to lay eggs.

Cold-Blooded Sunbathers – They rely on the sun to warm up their bodies before they can fly, making them more active in warm weather.

Short but Sweet Lives – Most butterflies live only a few weeks, but some, like the Monarch butterfly, can survive up to 9 months during migration.

Butterflies Drink Tears – Some species are known to sip tears from animals, like turtles and crocodiles, for salt and nutrients.

Caterpillar to Butterfly – The transformation process, called metamorphosis, includes a dramatic change from a crawling caterpillar to a winged beauty inside a chrysalis.

Some Migrate Thousands of Miles – Monarch butterflies travel up to 3,000 miles each year between North America and Mexico.

They Can See More Colors Than Humans – Butterflies can see ultraviolet light, allowing them to detect patterns on flowers that are invisible to us.

Mimicry and Camouflage – Some butterflies, like the Owl butterfly, have large eyespots on their wings to scare predators, while others mimic toxic species for protection.

They’re Essential Pollinators – Just like bees, butterflies help pollinate flowers by transferring pollen as they feed on nectar.