Zoology: Invertebrates

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butterfly

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

butterfly any of a large group of insects found throughout most of the world; with the moths , they comprise the order Lepidoptera. There are about 12 families of butterflies. Most adult moths and butterflies feed on nectar sucked from flowers. In the process they may transfer pollen from one flower to another, and many plants depend on moths or butterflies for pollination. Like moths, butterflies have coiled, sucking mouthparts and two pairs of wings that function as a single pair; the wings are covered with scales that come off as dust when the insect is handled.

Butterflies can be distinguished from moths in several ways: the antennae of butterflies are knobbed at the tips, while those of moths almost never have terminal knobs and are often feathery; the body of a butterfly is more slender and usually smoother than that of a moth; butterflies are active by day, while most moths are nocturnal; when at rest most butterflies hold the wings vertically, while most moths flatten them against the surface on which they are resting. The skippers are intermediate in characteristics, but they are usually called butterflies. Some butterflies migrate, usually traveling toward the equator in the fall and away from it in the spring. The North American monarch butterfly makes mass migrations of several thousand miles.

Coloration

The Lepidoptera, especially the butterflies, are known for the beautiful colors and patterns of their wings. Red, yellow, black, and white pigments are found in the scales; the blues and greens, and the metallic, iridescent hues found especially in tropical species, are caused chiefly by refraction. Some butterflies are protectively colored to match the environment. Many conspicuously colored species are distasteful to birds, which learn to avoid them, and others are protected by their resemblance to the distasteful species (see mimicry ). Among the most beautiful butterflies are the swallowtails, found all over the world, the monarchs, and the peacock and tortoiseshell butterflies.

Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis is complete, that is, the insect goes through four stages: egg, larva , pupa , and adult. The eggs, which hatch in 2 to 30 days, are usually laid on a plant that the larva (called a caterpillar ) uses for food. Most caterpillars eat leaves. After the last of several molts the larva is transformed into a pupa with a hard, often sculptured outer integument, within which it changes to the adult form. The butterfly pupa is called a chrysalis, or chrysalid. Most chrysalids (unlike the pupae of most moths) are not enclosed in a cocoon; however, they are usually suspended from some object by a silken thread and may have a partial covering. Except in those species that winter in the pupa stage, the adult usually emerges from the integument in two or three weeks. Members of some species winter in the egg stage, others as larvae or adults. The adults of most species, however, live only about a month.

Classification

Butterflies are classified in the phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera. The true butterflies form the superfamily Papilionoidea, and the skippers form the superfamily Hesperoidae.

Bibliography

See A. B. Klotz, Butterflies of the World (1976); R. M. Pyle, The Audubon Society Handbook for Butterfly Watchers (1984); M. Daccordi et al., Simon & Schuster's Guide to Butterflies and Moths (1988); D. Carter, Butterflies and Moths (1992).

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butterfly

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

but·ter·fly / ˈbətərˌflī/ • n. (pl. -flies) an insect (superfamilies Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea, order Lepidoptera) with two pairs of large wings that are covered with tiny scales, usually brightly colored, and typically held erect when at rest. Butterflies fly by day, have clubbed or dilated antennae, and usually feed on nectar. ∎ a showy or frivolous person: a social butterfly. ∎ (butterflies) inf. a fluttering and nauseated sensation felt in the stomach when one is nervous. ∎ (in full butterfly stroke) [in sing.] a stroke in swimming in which both arms are raised out of the water and lifted forward together. ∎ [as adj.] having a two-lobed shape resembling the spread wings of a butterfly: a butterfly clip. • v. (-flies, -flied) [tr.] split (a piece of meat) almost in two and spread it out flat.

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"butterfly." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"butterfly." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-butterfly.html

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butterfly

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

butterfly often taken as the type of a fragile and ephemeral creature (as in break of Chancery).
butterfly effect the effect of a very small change in the initial conditions of a system which makes a significant difference to the outcome; the term derives from the title of a paper (1979) by the American meteorologist Edward Lorenz (1917– ), ‘Predictability: Does the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?’
float like a butterfly, sting like a bee the summary of the boxing strategy of Muhammad Ali (1942– , born Cassius Clay), probably originated by his aide Drew ‘ Bundini’ Brown.

See also break of Chancery.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "butterfly." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "butterfly." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-butterfly.html

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butterfly

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

butterfly Day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera. The adult has two pairs of scale-covered wings that are often brightly coloured. The female lays eggs on a selected food source and the (caterpillar) larvae emerge within days or hours. The larvae have chewing mouthparts and often do great damage to crops until they reach the “resting phase” of the life cycle, the pupa (chrysalis). Within the pupa, the adult (imago) is formed with wings, wing muscles, antennae, a slender body and sucking mouthparts. The adults mate soon after emerging from the chrysalis, and the four-stage life cycle begins again. See also metamorphosis

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Butterflies

-Ologies and -Isms | 1986 | Copyright

64. Butterflies

butterfly

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

butterfly Late OE. buttorflēoġe, f. BUTTER + FLY1; cf. Du. botervlieg, G. butterfliege and buttervogel (-bird).

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T. F. HOAD. "butterfly." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "butterfly." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-butterfly.html

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butterflies

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Copyright

butterflies See Lepidoptera.

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butterflies

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

butterflies See LEPIDOPTERA.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "butterflies." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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butterfly

butterfly •ally, phalli •Adlai • gadfly • blackfly • damselfly •sandfly • barfly • mayfly •Eli, Ely •greenfly • bacilli • multiply • styli •whitefly • wall eye • horsefly •housefly •alveoli, E. coli, gladioli •blowfly • lapis lazuli • reguli • stimuli •flocculi • ranunculi • firefly •discoboli • astragali • dragonfly •alkali • Lorelei • Naphtali • butterfly •hoverfly

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"butterfly." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"butterfly." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-butterfly.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Butterflies for a bride turns some critics giddy. Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 6/13/2001
	Butterflies invited.(General News)(Attract more of the lovely insects to your... Newspaper article from: The Register Guard (Eugene, OR); 5/28/2007
	Butterflies like their summertime days hot, hot, hot.(Virginia Beach Beacon) Newspaper article from: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA); 7/25/2010