MarkyMark's Nature Blog: MarkyMark's Nature Blog:- Butterflies #7

Peacock photographed in local woods -Photo by Mark Appleton

We have been lucky with the sunshine the last couple of weeks and a good sign that spring is on its way is the emergence of butterflies. Now is a good time to spot some of the first butterflies of the year including the Peacock, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma. Butterflies and moths are arguably the most popular insects in Britain apart from maybe the Large Whites (Cabbage White) whose larvae eat our cabbages.

Brimstone (not my photo)

Butterflies and moths are insects and are related to invertebrates such as beetles, bugs and grasshoppers. Adult butterflies and moths have three pairs of legs and a body divided into three sections, the head, on which the mouthparts, eyes and sensory antennae are located, the thorax, to which the legs and two pairs of wings are attached and a segmented abdomen, inside which many of the vital organs are found.

Red Admiral (not my photo)

All butterflies and moths have four stages in their lifecycle (complete Metamorphosis). These are egg, larvae ( sometimes called caterpillar), pupae(sometimes called a Chrysalis) and adult. Each stage has a different goal, for instance caterpillars need to eat a lot and adults need to reproduce.

So what is the difference between a butterfly and a moth. They look alike as they belong to the same insect family but there are both behavioural and physical differences to look out for.

Small Tortoiseshell (not my photo)

Behavioural Difference:- Moths are nocturnal, while butterflies are diurnal (active during the day). At rest butterflies usually fold their wings back. while moths stretch out their wings. Moths make cocoons that are wrapped in silk coverings while butterflies form chrysalises that are hard, smooth and silkless.

Physical Difference:- Butterfly antennae are long and thin with club shaped tips (see pictures), while moths have shorter, feathery or comb-like antennae. Moths are stout and fuzzy, butterflies are slender and smooth. Butterfly wings are usually more brightly coloured than a moths. Moths wings are also different in that they have a structure called a frenulum that joins the forewing to the hind wing so the wings flap in unison.

Comma Photo by Simon Brown

Do Butterflies Hibernate:-

An early Brimstone harvesting much needed nectar -Photo by Mark Appleton

Technically insects don’t hibernate, rather they go into a state of dormancy. The majority of butterflies and moths will overwinter or hibernate in their larval stages (caterpillars), followed by the pupae (chrysalis), eggs and lastly as adults. The Brimstone is one of the first butterflies we see over-wintering as an adult, often among clusters of ivy leaves where its pale underwings camouflage it superbly. They even have a fake ‘fungal spot' to imitate the markings of a real leaf.
Fun fact:- These butterflies also carry natural ‘anti-freeze’ in their body, which protects Brimstones from potentially fatal frosts.

You are most likely to find the small tortoiseshell or peacock hibernating in your house.

Painted Lady - Photo by Mark Appleton

Do Butterflies Migrate:- Yes some do. An example is the Painted lady, see my photograph above. The butterfly migrates from the continent each summer to UK shores in varying numbers.
Scientists have discovered the Painted Lady does migrate south each autumn - but makes this return journey at high altitude hence only a recent discovery.

As butterflies are cold blooded animals they can't regulate their own body temperature and so the surrounding air temperature has a big impact on their body function, hence why they need warm days to fly. Cooler days require a butterfly to warm up its flight muscles, either by shivering or basking in the sun. A couple of butterflies below seen in my sisters garden and up the local woods on sunny days last week:-