Questions about butterflies

Tue May 2 19:16:54 EDT 2000

Esteemed Ms. Hammond, 

I hope you and the children of Rm. 16 enjoy studying butterflies.  You can 
buy them a kit from Insect lore (like an ant farm, but almost no work and 
under $20) to show them Painted Lady butterflies go through their life cycle.

Have fun.  

Doug Dawn
Woodland, CA

In a message dated 5/2/00 1:43:54 PM Pacific Daylight Time, mazzeip at tin.it 
writes:

> Christie L. Hammond (Lake Hills Elementary School, Bellevue, Washington,
>  mailto:Christie.Hammond at bsd405.com) wrote:
>  
>  "I am a teacher of 2nd grade. My students are very knowledgable about
>  butterflies. They have many questions that they want to have answered. 
Would
>  you be open to helping me with this? Some of their questions pertain to the
>  history of butterfly study and may be a bit difficult to answer."
>  
>  and these are the questions:
>  
>  Hi,
>  We are the kids from Room 16 at Lake Hills Elementary.  Thank you for
>  helping us find out more about butterflies.  We have chosen some of our
>  34 questions about butterflies and are sending them to you for help.
>  
>  1.  What is the first butterfly ever discovered?

THAT IS A SECRET NO ONE CAN EVER KNOW SINCE IT WAS BEFORE RECORDED HISTORY.  
IF YOU WERE A CAVEMAN OR CAVEWOMAN, DO YOU THINK YOU WOULDN'T NOTICE A 
BUTTERFLY AS YOU TOOK A BATH IN A PEACEFUL LAKE SURROUNDED BY BUTTERFLIES?

THE FIRST BUTTERFLIES NAMED SCIENTIFICALLY UNDER THE MODERN NAMES SYSTEM WERE 
IN 1758 AND THERE WERE MANY BUTTERFLIES DESCRIBED, INCLUDING 18 FROM THE 
UNITED STATES LIKE SWALLOWTAILS AND THE MONARCH.  

THE OLDEST MOTH FOSSIL EVER DISCOVERED IS 208 MILLION YEARS OLD FROM ENGLAND. 
 I BET YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BUTTERFLIES AND 
MOTHS NOW.  WELL, MAYBE MS. HAMMOND WILL MAKE THAT EXTRA CREDIT!
>  
>  2.  How do butterflies get their names and who names them?
A SCIENTIST DESCRIBES A BUTTERFLY HE FINDS (JUST LIKE ANY NEWLY "DISCOVERED" 
PLANT OR "BUTTERFLY."  HE GETS TO NAME IT BECAUSE IF YOU ARE THE FIRST ONE TO 
CAREFULLY UNDERSTAND AND SHARE WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN A BOOK OR MAGAZINE, YOUR 
REWARD IS GETTING TO NAME IT AFTER ALMOST ANYTHING YOU WANT.
>  
>  3.  What do scientists call butterflies?

THEY CALL THESE INSECTS LEPIDOPTERANS, OR LEPS FOR SHORT.  SINCE LEPS INCLUDE 
MOTHS AS WELL, SOME SCIENTISTS SEPARATE THE MOTHS FROM THE BUTTERFLIES AND 
CALL THE BUTTERFLIES ALONE "RHOPALOCERA"
>  
>  4.  When were butterflies first discovered?

SEE NUMBER #1.  THE FIRST BUTTERFLIES AND MOTH-LIKE INSECTS FLEW WITH THE 
DINOSAURS ABOUT 100 MILLION YEARS AGO.  THE OLDEST FOSSIL WE HAVE FOUND IN 
THE WHOLE WORLD IS ABOUT 48 MILLION YEARS OLD FROM COLORADO.
>  
>  5.  Do butterflies swim?

NONE THAT I KNOW OF.  KINDA HARD ON THE WINGS.  EVEN WHEN IT RAINS A WET 
BUTTERFLY HAS A HARDER TIME GETTING AWAY WITH ALL THE WATER ON ITS FRAGILE 
WINGS WHICH MIGHT WEIGH AS MUCH AS A WHOLE 'NOTHER BUTTERFLY.
>  
>  6.  What is the largest kind of butterfly in the world?
THAT DEPENDS.  THE LARGEST WINGSPANS ARE ON THE BIRDWING BUTTERFLIES IN 
SOUTHEAST ASIA.  THE WING THAT WOULD NEED THE MOST PAINT TO COVER THE SURFACE 
OF ALL OF IT, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT AS LONG AS THE BIRDWINGS HAS BEEN SAID TO 
BE MORPHO HECUBA, A SHOWY SOUTH AMERICAN BUTTERFLY.
>  
>  7.  Are any butterflies endangered?

YES, MANY ARE ENDANGERED OR REALLY VULNERABLE.  IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT 25 
DIFFERENT KINDS OF BUTTERFLIES ARE KNOWN TO BE THREATENED.

>  
>  8.  Why do butterflies die after they lay eggs?

BUTTERFLIES DON'T NECESSARILY DIE AFTER LAYING EGGS.  SOME BUTTERFLIES LIKE 
THE ZEBRA IN THE SOUTHERN US CAN LIVE FOR 9 MONTHS AND THE LADY BUTTERFLIES 
CAN LAY EGGS FOR MOST OF THEIR LIVES.  OF COURSE, AFTER THE BUTTERFLY LAYS 
ALL THE EGGS SHE CAN, IT IS TIME TO LET THE NEXT GENERATION HAVE THE NECTAR 
FROM THE FLOWERS.  IF SHE STAYED AROUND FOREVER, THEIR WOULDN'T ALWAYS BE 
ENOUGH NECTAR FOR EVERYONE, SO LIKE EVERYONE, SHE PASSES ON AFTER HAVING HAD 
A VERY SATISFYING LIFE.  
>  
>  9.  How do we tell if a butterfly is a boy or a girl?
THE EASIEST WAY IS TO WATCH IT TO SEE IF IT LAYS EGGS.  IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO 
SCHOOL OR CAN'T RUN SO FAST, SOME BUTTERFLIES LIKE MONARCHS HAVE BLACK SPOTS 
ON THEIR WINGS IF THEY ARE BOYS (THESE MAKE A COLOGNE TO ATTRACT THE GIRL 
BUTTERFLIES)
>  
>  10. How do butterflies protest themselves?

BY FLYING VERY VERY FAST!  OR BY EATING POISONOUS PLANTS TO PREDATORS THAT 
MAKE THEM TASTE BAD WHEN THEY ARE ADULTS WITH WINGS.  OTHERS LOOK LIKE 
POISONOUS BUTTERFLIES AND ARE PROTECTED BECAUSE PREDATORS ARE SCARED TO MESS 
WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE THE POISONOUS ONES WHICH MAKE THEM THROW UP.
>  
>  11. How many poisonous butterflies are there?

THERE ARE NO POISONOUS BUTTERFLIES UNLESS YOU MEAN POISONOUS IF YOU WANT TO 
EAT THESE BEAUTIFUL BUGS.  AND JUST REMEMBER WHAT IS POISONOUS TO A BIRD MAY 
BE FINE TO EAT FOR A SPIDER.  MAYBE 2% OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BUTTERFLIES 
WILL GIVE HUNGRY PREDATORS A STOMACH ACHE OR MAKE THEM FEEL BAD.  IN 
WASHINGTON STATE, THAT INCLUDED THE MONARCH, AND HERE IN CALIFORNIA, IT 
INCLUDES THE PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL.  SO IN THE WORLD, MAYBE THERE ARE 400 
"POISONOUS" BUTTERFLIES THAT GROW UP AS CATERPILLARS EATING THINGS LIKE 
MILKWEED AND PIPEVINE WHICH MAKE THEM POISONOUS 
>  
>  12. Why are butterflies so small?
SMALL?  I THINK ANTS ARE SMALL.  IF YOU PUT A SWALLOWTAIL NEAR AN ANT, THE 
ANT MIGHT THINK IT WAS A GIGANTIC BEAUTIFUL DRAGON.  THAT IS IF ANTS CAN 
THINK THAT HARD.  BUT SINCE BUTTERFLIES LIVE LESS THAN A YEAR (UNLESS THEY 
HIBERNATE), THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET AS BIG AS SECOND GRADERS THAT HAVE 
HEALTHY APPETITES FOR SEVEN WHOLE YEARS.  ACTUALLY BUTTERFLIES BASICALLY GROW 
ONLY WHEN THEY ARE CATERPILLARS, EATING WITHOUT STOPPING EXCEPT TO REST.  
WHEN THEY TURN INTO WINGED BUTTERFLIES, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE JAWS ANY MORE.  
THEY JUST HAVE A COILED UP TONGUE-THING (PROBOSCIS) THAT LOOKS LIKE A STRAW, 
WHICH PULLS NECTAR FROM FLOWERS OR OTHER PLACES LIKE THE WICK OF A CANDLE 
PULLS WAX TO KEEP BURNING.  THE TONGUE-THING LOOKS LIKE A PARTY WHISTLER, THE 
KIND THAT YOU CAN SCARE YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW WITH BY BLOWING IN IT AND 
UNCOILING IT TO WHISTLE.
>  
>  13. Why do butterflies have two sets of wings?

FOR THE SAME REASON CARS HAVE TWO SETS OF WHEELS AND AIRPLANES HAVE TAILS AND 
AILERONS.  THIS ALLOWS THEM TO STEER.  ALSO IT ALLOWS THEM TO NOT HAVE SUCH 
BIG WINGS WHEN THEY WANT TO HIDE, SINCE THEY CAN'T FOLD THEIR WINGS.
>  
>  14. Do butterflies get sick?
YES, THEY CAN GET INFECTIONS FROM BACTERIA AND VIRUSES JUST LIKE ALL 
CREATURES.  THEY ESPECIALLY GET SICK WHEN THEY ARE CATERPILLARS AND PUTTING 
LOTS OF THINGS IN THEIR MOUTHS AND SOMETIMES CAN'T ESCAPE DIRTY PLACES TO 
TAKE A BATH.
>  
>  15. Why are butterflies part of nature?
THEY POLLINATE FLOWERS TO HELP THE FLOWERS MAKE MORE FLOWERS.  THEY ALSO HELP 
CONTROL THE PLANTS THEY EAT SO THE PLANTS DON'T TAKE OVER, BECAUSE EVERYTHING 
IN NATURE HAS TO BE CONTROLLED TO STAY HEALTHY AND MAKE IT STRONG.

>  
>  16. Do butterflies have to learn how to fly or do they just know?
THEY PROBABLY JUST KNOW.  I GUESS THEY ARE MADE WITH MUSCLES IN THEIR CHEST 
(THORAX) WHICH ONLY MOVE ONE WAY.  THEY MIGHT BE SCARED WHEN THEY FIRST COME 
OUT OF THEIR CHRYSALIS SO THEY PROBABLY TWITCH THEIR MUSCLES AND DISCOVER 
THEIR WINGS.  THEN THEY GET BETTER THE MORE THEY FLY.
>  
>  17. How many kinds of butterflies are there in the world?

THE SCIENTISTS SAY ALMOST 20,000 HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT, SO THAT IS HOW MANY 
WE THINK THERE ARE.  NEW ONES ARE STILL BEING FOUND, BUT IT IS GETTING LESS 
COMMON NOW THAT THE NAMING PARTY IS OVER AND ALMOST ALL HAVE SCIENTIFIC NAMES.
>  
>  18. How come caterpillars are different from their mothers?

CATERPILLARS ARE NOT DIFFERENT FROM THEIR MOMS.  THEY ARE JUST BABIES.  THEIR 
MOM WAS A CATERPILLAR ONCE TOO.
>  
>  19. Why do butterflies have big eyes?
A BUTTERFLY IS LIKE AN AIRPLANE AND PILOT ALL IN ONE.  IT NEEDS TO HAVE GOOD 
VIEWS OF WHERE IT IS GOING SO ITS EYES HAVE TO GIVE IT THE ABILITY TO SEE THE 
SIDES AND FRONT AT THE SAME TIME.  REALLY, LIKE OTHER INSECTS, THEIR EYES ARE 
REALLY MADE OF LOTS OF LITTLE MINIEYES ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

>  
>  20. How do butterflies breath?

BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SMALL, THEY HAVE LITTLE EMPTY SACS WHICH THEY AND USE 
THERE MUSCLES TO FILL AND LET OUT AIR LIKE A BALLOON.  THE SACS ARE CONNECTED 
TO A WHOLE BUNCH OF HOLLOW VEINS WHICH END IN LITTLE HOLES ALL OVER THE 
BUTTERFLY'S BODY.  THE BUTTERFLY CAN MAKE THE AIR GO IN AND OUT, ESPECIALLY 
WHEN IT IS FLYING IT CAN GET EVEN MORE SO IT IS NEVER OUT OF BREATH.
>  
>  21. Do  butterflies have other names?
EVERY LANGUAGE HAS A NAME FOR A BUTTERFLY.  IN FRENCH IT IS PAPILLON AND IN 
AZTEC INDIAN IT IS PAPALOTL.  SOME POETS CALL THEM "FLOWERS OF THE AIR" SINCE 
THEY LOOK LIKE FLYING FLOWERS.  AND OF COURSE, EACH KIND OF BUTTERFLY HAS A 
NAME GIVEN TO IT BY SCIENTISTS (IT IS JUST SUPPOSED TO HAVE ONE OF THESE), 
AND MANY COMMON NAMES.  YOU CAN MAKE A COMMON NAME FOR BUTTERFLIES IF YOU 
WANT AND DISCOVER THE FUN OF NAMING YOURSELF! 

>  
>  22. If butterflies are endangered, what can we do to help save
>  butterflies?

WE REALLY CAN HELP BUTTERFLIES.  FIRST, WE SHOULD FIND OUT WHICH ONES ARE 
ORIGINALLY FROM THE AREA WHERE WE LIVE SINCE WE ARE SHARING THE BUTTERFLIES 
HOME WITH THOSE ESPECIALLY.  PEOPLE LIKE US CLEAR FIELDS TO MAKE ROOM TO LIVE 
AND SHOP AND DRIVE AND PLAY.  BUT WHEN WE DO THIS, WE DON'T ALWAYS THINK 
ABOUT ALL THE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FLOWERS OF THE ARE THAT LIVE THERE.  WE 
SOMETIMES THROW AWAY THE PLANTS THE BUTTERFLY BABIES (CATERPILLARS) ARE 
EATING AND THE POOR BABIES DRY UP AND DIE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T RUN TO A NEW 
PLACE BECAUSE THEY MOVE SLOW AND ARE SMALL AND THE WHOLE WORLD IS A DANGEROUS 
PLACE FOR THEM.

SO FIND OUT WHAT BUTTERFLIES LIKE TO EAT AND PLANT IT FOR THEM!  THEN THEY 
WILL COME IF YOU ARE CAREFUL AND PAY LOTS OF ATTENTION TO MAKING THEM HAPPY, 
ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAN GET HELP FROM A GROWN-UP.  TELL THE BIG PEOPLE AROUND 
YOU NOT TO MOW THE PART OF THE BACK YARD, OR AN EMPTY FIELD.  AND WHATEVER 
YOU DO TELL THEM NOT TO SPRAY BUG KILLERS ANYWHERE AT ALL, BECAUSE IT IS 
POISON TO THE BUTTERFLIES AND KILLS THEM DEAD AND THEY GO TO HEAVEN BUT NEVER 
COME BACK TO PLAY WITH YOU.

>  
>  Thank you for helping us with our questions.

IT WAS A PLEASURE.  I GOT HELP WITH THE QUESTIONS ON FOSSILS I DID NOT KNOW 
FROM THIS BOOK:
EMMEL, TOM, MINNO, MARC AND BOYCE DRUMMOND, FLORISSANT BUTTERFLIES, STANFORD 
UNIV. PRESS., 1992

>  
>  Sincerely,
>  
>  room 16