Butterfly wings are transparent
A butterfly's wings are covered by thousands of tiny scales, and these scales reflect light in different colors. But underneath all of those scales, a butterfly wing is actually formed by layers of chitin-the same protein that makes up an insect's exoskeleton. These layers are so thin you can see right through them.
Butterflies taste with their feet
Butterflies have taste receptors on their feet to help them find their host plants and locate food. A female butterfly lands on different plants, drumming the leaves with her feet until the plant releases its juices. Spines on the back of her legs have chemoreceptors that detect the right match of plant chemicals. When she identifies the right plant, she lays her eggs.
Butterflies live on an all-liquid diet
Adult butterflies can only feed on liquids-usually nectar. Their mouthparts are modified to enable them to drink, but they can't chew solids. A proboscis, which functions as a drinking straw, stays folded-up under the butterfly's chin until it finds a source of nectar or other liquid nutrition. The long, tubular structure then unfolds and sips up a meal.
