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butterfly

Butterflies belong to a group of insects called Lepidoptera from the Latin words “epido” which means scale and “ptera” which means wing.

They are the only insects with scales (like fish!)

 

Butterflies do not have the same sense of taste, smell and sight that people have, They "taste" through their feet and “smell” with their antennae. Their eyes have many lenses (unlike ours that have just one) so it looks like a disco-ball.


But that's not the weirdest thing. Butterflies sip nectar through what we would think is their nose which is really a long straw-like tube called a proboscis

 Probiscus

The picture above is a very close close-up of the head of a butterfly.
See the BIG EYES!
His rolled-up proboscis lies between his eyes like a nose.
It uncurls to act like a straw to suck up nectar from flowers.
The proboscis on the butterfly to the left is uncurled.

 Plant a Butterfly Garden.
Click here to find out more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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