Moths and Butterflies (and Skippers too)Under Construction
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Butterflies, Moths, and Skippers comprise the Lepidoptera, an Order of insects with four scale-covered wings, a curled proboscis, and which undergo a complete metamorphosis.
Lets begin with the wings. The Lepidoptera have two pairs of wings - a pair of fore wings (the “upper” wings) and a pair of hind wings (the “lower” wings. If you look at the wings through a magnifying glass, you can see the scales covering the wings, which is where the very name Lepidoptera comes from (Greek lapis = scale and pteron = wing). When at rest, some hold their wings flat, others folded. Some of the skippers do both, looking sort of like a paper airplane or vintage jet.
Lets begin with the wings. The Lepidoptera have two pairs of wings - a pair of fore wings (the “upper” wings) and a pair of hind wings (the “lower” wings. If you look at the wings through a magnifying glass, you can see the scales covering the wings, which is where the very name Lepidoptera comes from (Greek lapis = scale and pteron = wing). When at rest, some hold their wings flat, others folded. Some of the skippers do both, looking sort of like a paper airplane or vintage jet.
Next we will consider the proboscis. Lepidoptera have a long, coiled proboscis, a straw-like mouthpart that is coiled 4-5 times at rest, and unfurls to reach deep into flowers to such up nectar. If you watch a butterfly on a flower, you may be able to see it unfurl its long proboscis and feel around with it to find its dinner.
Finally, lets talk about complete metamorphosis. Lepidoptera undergo a four-stage lifecycle. They start as an egg. Once hatched, they begin their larval stage - a caterpillar. As they grow, the caterpillar molts, with each new stage called an instar (you may see reference to 1st instar, 2nd instar, etc). Once it reaches its full size, the caterpillar forms a pupa (called a chrysalis in butterflies, a cocoon in moths). While a pupa, the body is broken down and reformed, ultimately emerging as a butterfly, moth, or skipper.
When the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, it must pump fluid from its abdomen into its wings to expand them, then let them dry before it is able to fly away to seek food. Most butterflies live only a few weeks after hatching, though some may overwinter and live for months. The Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), which occurs across much of the United States, can live up to 10 months as a butterfly.
So what is the difference between a butterfly, a moth, and a skipper? The scientific division between them is a bit fluid. Traditionally, colorful diurnal Lepidoptera are called butterflies, nocturnal dull Lepidoptera were called moths. Skippers were classed as butterflies, but genetic sequencing is finding that the old order of things (based on external characteristics) is perhaps not quite so clear cut. In common parlance, the old oder still largely stands- butterflies are colorful, fly during the day, and have clubbed antennae. Moths are dull, hairy, fly in the evening or at night, and have feathery antennae. Skippers are often bright like butterflies, hairy like moths, and often have curved hooks on the end of their antennae.
So what is the difference between a butterfly, a moth, and a skipper? The scientific division between them is a bit fluid. Traditionally, colorful diurnal Lepidoptera are called butterflies, nocturnal dull Lepidoptera were called moths. Skippers were classed as butterflies, but genetic sequencing is finding that the old order of things (based on external characteristics) is perhaps not quite so clear cut. In common parlance, the old oder still largely stands- butterflies are colorful, fly during the day, and have clubbed antennae. Moths are dull, hairy, fly in the evening or at night, and have feathery antennae. Skippers are often bright like butterflies, hairy like moths, and often have curved hooks on the end of their antennae.
If you want to attract a particular butterfly or moth to your yard, you can plant its favorite food. For example, if you want to attract the bright orange Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae), you can plant one of the native passion vines. The Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus), as its name implies, feeds on the Ashe Juniper while in its larval stage. The Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresophontes) likes Wafer Ash, Prickly Ash, and domestic citrus trees. Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) are fond of the Milkweeds. And if you are lucky enough to have the small Swanflower growing in your lawn, you may be able to attract the Pipeline Swallowtail (Battus philenor). In addition, if you know what a butterfly or caterpillar likes, you can know what species to look for when you are out hiking.
Butterflies and moths can serve as pollinators, but some species can also be harmful to trees, crops, or even your clothes. In Texas, the Yellow-striped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli) is one of many common garden pests, stripping plants of their leaves. The Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea) may attack pecans, hickories, mulberries or other local trees, wit the caterpillars weaving large webs and stripping leaves. Walnut caterpillars (Datana integerrima) may attack walnuts and honey locust, with caterpillars staying together and stripping leaves from branches. The oak leaf roller (Archips semiferana) can attack live oaks, potentially defoliating trees during their growth period.
In Texas, the state insect is the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus), a long-distance migrant that winters in central Mexico and passes through Texas on its spring and fall migration. The fall migrating butterfly that heads south is not the same butterfly that came north earlier in the year - it is a later generation. But those that fly south to Mexico are the ones that will come back north in the spring. To help the butterflies on their route north or south, you can plant plants that they like. The caterpillars need milkweeds - and in Central Texas two native ones you can plant are Antelope Horns (Asclepias asperula) and Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis). On their spring migration north, the butterflies like the nectar of such natives as Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides), and Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea). The fall Monarchs feed on Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii), Shrubby Boneset (Ageratina havanensis), and Frosted (Verbesina virginica).
Despite their bright colors, butterflies and caterpillars are masters of disguise. Some exhibit something called automimicry - where one part of their body looks like another part. Many of the hairstreaks have a colored spot at the back of their wings and long thin wingtips, mimicking the head and antenna and potentially having predators attacking the wrong end, giving them a way too escape. Giant Swallowtail caterpillars mimic bird poo. Several bright orange caterpillars (Monarchs and Viceroys) use their color to signal that they are distasteful - a form of Mullerian mimicry. Many moth caterpillars look like twigs - a form of mimicry. Some moths and butterflies look like dead leaves, or match the coloration of their common background. Others have odd shapes, breaking up their outline. Some also have large eyespots or flashing colors used to confuse or startle potential predators.
When studying and learning about moths and butterflies in the past, we would catch and kill them, then mount them in boxes or display cases. Today we can take photographs instead, allowing us to observe and study Lepidoptera without harming them. You may still want to set up night traps to capture moths to observe - setting up a sheet with a light for example, or use a butterfly net to capture and release butterflies after observing. For more active species, you may cool them down in a cooler or a container in the fridge to slow their metabolism, then take them out and get the photos before they fully warm up and fly away. Just don’t cool them too long - the point is to study without harm.
Moths and Butterflies Honor
1. What is the distinction between moths and butterflies?
2. Define the following terms: antennae, cocoon, pupa, larva, and chrysalis.
3. Distinguish between three different cocoons as to species.
4. What causes colored powder to come off on your hands when you handle the wings of a butterfly? Examine the powder of a moth with a magnifying lens and describe your findings.
5. Name a harmful house moth and three harmful tree moths and tell during what stage of their lives they do their damage.
6. What famous butterfly follows the birds southward every winter and comes northward again in spring?
7. Do one of the following:
a. Make a collection of 25 moths and butterflies, with not more than two specimens of any one variety. Specimens should be anesthetized by using carbon tetrachloride or other chemical in a collecting jar.
b. Identify in the field, then draw or photograph 25 species of lepidoptera.
In either project, correctly label with name, date observed, location, time of day, and plant type on which it was feeding.
8. Describe the life history of a moth or butterfly. What lesson can be learned in connection with the resurrection of the righteous dead?
2. Define the following terms: antennae, cocoon, pupa, larva, and chrysalis.
3. Distinguish between three different cocoons as to species.
4. What causes colored powder to come off on your hands when you handle the wings of a butterfly? Examine the powder of a moth with a magnifying lens and describe your findings.
5. Name a harmful house moth and three harmful tree moths and tell during what stage of their lives they do their damage.
6. What famous butterfly follows the birds southward every winter and comes northward again in spring?
7. Do one of the following:
a. Make a collection of 25 moths and butterflies, with not more than two specimens of any one variety. Specimens should be anesthetized by using carbon tetrachloride or other chemical in a collecting jar.
b. Identify in the field, then draw or photograph 25 species of lepidoptera.
In either project, correctly label with name, date observed, location, time of day, and plant type on which it was feeding.
8. Describe the life history of a moth or butterfly. What lesson can be learned in connection with the resurrection of the righteous dead?
Moths, Butterflies and Caterpillars of Texas
All but one of this set of photos were taken in Texas (the Pandorus Sphinx Moth Caterpillar is from Connecticut). Many of these images come from SAIL Pathfinder outings. Keep a sharp eye out whenever we go camping or hiking - or even when you walk in the park of your back yard (the series of images of the Giant Swallowtail are from my back yard!).
Butterflies from HMNH Cockrell Butterfly Center
These images are from the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural History. Many were taken on our January 2012 SAIL Pathfinder trip to Houston.
Moths and Butterflies Honor Requirements
1. What is the distinction between moths and butterflies?
2. Define the following terms: antennae, cocoon, pupa, larva, chrysalis.
3. Be able to identify three moths and/or butterflies by their cocoons.
4. What causes colored powder to come off on your hands when you handle the wings of a butterfly or moth? Examine the powder of a butterfly or moth with a magnifying lens and describe your findings.
5. Name three harmful tree moths and one harmful house moth and tell during what stage of their lives they each do their damage.
6. What famous butterfly follows the birds southward every winter and comes northward in the spring?
7. Identify in the field, then draw, photograph or collect 25 species of moths and butterflies, with not more than two specimens of any one variety. When collecting, specimens should be anesthetized by using carbon tetrachloride or other chemical in collecting jar. In either project correctly label and include the following information:
a. Name
b. Date observed
c. Location
d. Time of day
e. Plant on which the insect was feeding or the material on which it was perched
8. Describe the life cycle of a butterfly or moth. What lesson can be learned in connection with the resurrection of the righteous.
1. What is the distinction between moths and butterflies?
2. Define the following terms: antennae, cocoon, pupa, larva, chrysalis.
3. Be able to identify three moths and/or butterflies by their cocoons.
4. What causes colored powder to come off on your hands when you handle the wings of a butterfly or moth? Examine the powder of a butterfly or moth with a magnifying lens and describe your findings.
5. Name three harmful tree moths and one harmful house moth and tell during what stage of their lives they each do their damage.
6. What famous butterfly follows the birds southward every winter and comes northward in the spring?
7. Identify in the field, then draw, photograph or collect 25 species of moths and butterflies, with not more than two specimens of any one variety. When collecting, specimens should be anesthetized by using carbon tetrachloride or other chemical in collecting jar. In either project correctly label and include the following information:
a. Name
b. Date observed
c. Location
d. Time of day
e. Plant on which the insect was feeding or the material on which it was perched
8. Describe the life cycle of a butterfly or moth. What lesson can be learned in connection with the resurrection of the righteous.