BUTTERFLIES ARE ONE OF THE SUMMER JOYS WE LOVE EACH YEAR

Butterflies are as equally important economically as bees, being one of the major agents of pollination. Their origins may date back to the Cretaceous Period, ending 65 million years ago. Artistic depictions of butterflies have been seen in the Egyptian hieroglyphics of 3,500 years ago. Butterflies are today distributed throughout the world, except in the very cold and arid regions. There are an estimated 17,500 species of butterflies (Papilionoidea) out of about 180,000 species of Lepidoptera.

There are five families of true butterflies: The Swallowtails, Apollos and Birdwings; The Whites and Yellows; The Blues and Coppers; The Metalmark butterflies; and the Brush-footed butterflies. Butterflies are known as holometabolous insects, and go through complete metamorphosis from Egg to Larva to Pupa and finally the adult butterfly. Butterflies in their adult stage can live from a week to nearly a year depending on the species. They may have one or more broods per year. Butterfly eggs are fixed to a leaf with a special glue which hardens rapidly. The egg stage lasts a few weeks in most butterflies. Larvae, or caterpillars, are multi-legged leaf-eating machines. The adult, sexually-mature, stage of the insect is known as the imago.

The coloration of butterfly wings is created by minute scales. These scales are pigmented with melanins that give them blacks and browns, but blues, greens, reds and iridescence are usually created not by pigments but the microstructure of the scales. Wing markings called eyespots are present in some species. Vision is well developed in butterflies and most species are sensitive to the ultraviolet spectrum. Some butterflies have organs of hearing and some species are also known to make clicking sounds. Many butterflies migrate over long distances. We know particularly of the famous migrations of the Monarch butterfly from North America to Mexico, a distance of about 2500-3000 miles. It is a wonder of nature that they can fly this far and navigate so perfectly. The beauty of these little insects, wherever they are found, is truly incredible. They brighten our gardens and at the same time enhance our food chains.