The butterflies are among the most beautiful animals on the planet, their way of flying and their striking colors capture the attention of the people easily. In addition, their life cycle is worth observing, as they go through a metamorphosis consisting of four stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly.
In addition to this extreme transformation, there are many curiosities surrounding these insects. Do you want to know them better? our site brings you this article to explain where butterflies live and what they eat. Find out all about them!
Where do butterflies live?
Before we talk about what butterflies eat, you need to know where they live. There are day and night butterflies Most of them prefer to live in warm places where it is easier to regulate their body temperature. However, some species are able to survive in the Arctic areas, although this climate, in addition to being very cold for the rest of the types of butterflies, has few power supplies.
In this sense, what is essential for the habitat of butterflies are good temperatures and abundant vegetation where they obtain their sustenance. For this reason, they are able to live in forests, jungles, savannahs, mountains and even in cities with natural lungs.
What do butterflies eat?
We have mentioned that abundant vegetation is crucial for feeding butterflies. They consume their food through a small tube that is coiled and uncoiled, it is very thin and is located on the head. Now, what do butterflies eat? They feed on the nectar of flowers thanks to their particular mouthparts, as they are capable of extending their trunks to enter between the petals.
Among the curiosities about butterflies, is the fact that they are insects pollinators, process that is carried out thanks to the consumption of this nectar.
Are butterflies herbivores?
The feeding of these insects depends on the stage they are in. The larvae or caterpillars consume their own egg at birth, and grow as they eat leaves, flowers, fruit, stems, and roots. During this period, they can be considered herbivores When they enter the chrysalis stage, they stop feeding. Once the metamorphosis of the butterfly is complete, the species with a longer life expectancy consume nectar, while others, those that live only a few days, concentrate on reproducing, having obtained all the nutrients they need during their larval stage.
What do monarch butterflies eat?
The monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are easy to identify by the bright orange color of their wings, edged with black veins and decorated with white polka dots.
This species is known as the milkweed butterfly, since during its caterpillar stage it feeds on the leaves of the tree that bears the same name. What do adult monarch butterflies eat? Their diet is based on the nectar of flowers, especially those that come from the same milkweed tree, in addition to the Spanish flag, blood flower or grass Mary (Asclepias curassavica).
Also find out on our site if the monarch butterfly is in danger of extinction.
What do silk butterflies eat?
The butterfly or silkworm (Bombyx mori) is a species capable of producing silk during the caterpillar or larva phase. This type of butterfly feeds on mulberry leaves, a tree native to the Asian continent. It is common for the larvae to die of starvation, since the eggs often hatch when the leaves of the trees have not yet sprouted. Following the silkworm reproduction, once the individuals have become adult butterflies, they quickly seek to mate before dying.
How do butterflies reproduce?
The metamorphosis of the butterfly is a process during which they go through several stages. The appearance and their habits change drastically, as they go from being land animals to flying insects.
Butterflies exhibit sexual dimorphism and mate during warm seasons. The male attracts the female with pheromones, and they mate with her bellies either perched on a branch or while flying. Do you want to know in detail this process? Check out this article on butterfly reproduction
How long do butterflies live?
You already know where butterflies live and what they eat, as well as how they reproduce. Next, we talk about their life expectancy.
The lifespan of butterflies is difficult to determine, since it depends on many factors, such as climate, food and the species. Also, if egg laying occurs before the cold season, the larvae do not hatch until temperatures rise again. On the other hand, some species of adult butterflies migrate during the winter In addition to the climate factor, there is the danger of predators, ranging from birds to other insects, which seriously interferes with the natural life cycle of butterflies.
Bearing this in mind, it is possible to affirm that the smallest species can live between 5 and 7 days, 9 if the climate is favorable and abundant food. Faced with low temperatures, they will die faster. On the other hand, the largest butterflies reach between 9 and 10 months of life.
