The document provides information about butterflies and moths. It defines Lepidoptera as the scientific name for these insects and notes their characteristics like wing size, vision, and flight speed. Key differences between butterflies and moths are highlighted, such as color, wing position at rest, and activity during the day versus night. The life cycle of butterflies is described from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult. Additionally, the document discusses the dragon scale plant and its uses as well as an experience in nature and observations of ecosystem interactions.
1. BUTTERFLY
Lepidoptera is the scientific name for
insects such as butterflies and moths.
LEPIDOPTERA is the Greek word for
‘scale wing’.
Rhopalocera is the scientific name for
butterfly.
2. Characteristics
Butterflies:
Can range from as small as 1/8 of an inch to as
large as 12 inches
Have vision in red, green and yellow
Has a top flight speed is 12 miles per hour
Cannot fly when their body temperature is
lower than 86 degrees
Taste with their feet to make sure the flower
is suitable to provide food for its offspring.
3.
4. Butterfly VS Moth
Butterfly
Has bright colours
Wings are held together while resting
Active during the day
Top speed: 12 miles/hour
5. Moth
Less bright colour
Wings open and folded behind its back while
resting
Active during the night
Top speed: 25 miles/hour
7. Life Cycle
The Egg
The butterfly starts out as a tiny egg, oval or round. They are
usually found on leaves of plants.
The Larva (Caterpillar)
In this stage, all the they do is eat the leaf they were born into.
Every caterpillar type likes only certain types of leaves.
Hence, the mother butterfly has to search and decide on what
type of plant to hatch its larva.
The Pupa (Chrysalis)
It may look like the caterpillar is just resting, from the
outside, but actually it is undergoing vast transformation
known as ‘metamorphosis’. Both tissue and organs have been
changed by the time the pupa is completed.
Adult Butterfly
After the butterfly has emerged from its pupa, it normally takes
3-4 hours to master flying. It then searches for a mate and
gives birth to more offspring. The life cycle is then repeated.
9. Characteristics
The ‘dragon scale’ is an ephiphyte which
means it grows on trees to survive.
Its thin stem is covered by scales and there
are star- shaped hairs on the stem.This helps
to conserve water.
10.
11. Uses
The leaves of the ‘dragon scale’ can be used to
treat rash.
The decoction is used in lotion and applied on
the skin to treat smallpox, and used in
poultice to treat headache.
12. Experience
See- plant, trees, greenery
Hear- river flowing, cricket, the wind
Taste- river water(tasteless), leaves(bitter)
Smell- fresh air, the smell of trees and plants
Feel-humid, hot, river water (cold)
13. The Ecosystem
From what I observe in the site is that living things rely on
each other for survival.There is no living thing in existence
that is self-sufficient. It is until I understand this that I truly
appreciate nature and its ecosystem. Now I know that the
ecosystem is not just a biological community fighting for
survival but rather, a community that interacts with each
other that results in a balanced natural ecosystem.
However when this balance is disturbed by human
activities, it may result in the extinction of endangered
species. I predict that if the ecosystem is continually
unbalanced, one day it could mean the extinction of
mankind. Hence, I strongly believe that everyone should be
more cautious of nature and the consequences that could
result if the ecosystem is impaired.
Out of the 220, 000 species of lepidoptera, about 45, 000 are butterflies, which most likely evolved from the moth. Butterflies areThe earliest known butterfly fossils were from between 40-50 million year ago. The development of butterflies and flowers are very similar, this is because both butterflies and caterpillars feed on flowering plants. found all over the world, except Antarctica.