BUTTERFLY FACTS

• Butterflies' lives are short averaging two weeks.

• The word pupa is Latin; chrysalis is Greek.

• It is estimated that in nature only 2 % of eggs reach maturity. Predators attack at each stage.

• Predators include birds, ants, wasps, lizards and man.

• Herbicides and insecticides do tremendous damage.

• Varied and healthy plants are the key to butterfly health.

• The colors on the wings are caused by scales which refract and reflect light.

• Blues and greens are usually caused by diffraction rather than pigments in the wings. Other colors are usually caused by pigments

• Some butterflies even produce polarized light patterns on their wings

• The scientific name for their Order is Lepidoptera, which means scaled wings.

• Butterflies are cold blooded and need the warmth from sunlight to be most active.

• They become active in 70° F full sun (21° C).

• It is estimated that there are 600 butterfly species in Nicaragua.

• Butterflies feed on flower nectar, fruit juices, and other liquid nutrient sources.

• The greatest threat to butterflies is the loss of habitat, not butterfly collecting.

• Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) appear to have only 4 legs because the last 2 are very small and near the head

• A few butterfly and moth species, like the Sphinx moths, have acquired the ability to hover like a hummingbird