Thursday, March 31, 2005
No. of Species in the World? Singapore?
There are approximately 20,000 species of butterflies and 120,000 species of moths.
In Singapore, 381* species of butterflies have been recorded but only 240+ have been verified over the last 6 years. Of the 381 species, about 55 are now extinct.
*381 is derived from the 363 species recorded in the books of W.A Fleming and Corbet & Pandlebury , plus 18 new species recorded recently by Khew SK and Steven Neo.
Common Butterflies in Singapore
The Lime Butterfly, Lemon Emigrant, Common Palmfly are commonly found in Housing Estates and urban areas while the Common Grass Yellow, Chocolate Pansy, Painted Jezebel, Striped Albatross and Orange Emigrant are commonly seen in parks and open grassland.
In Singapore, 381* species of butterflies have been recorded but only 240+ have been verified over the last 6 years. Of the 381 species, about 55 are now extinct.
*381 is derived from the 363 species recorded in the books of W.A Fleming and Corbet & Pandlebury , plus 18 new species recorded recently by Khew SK and Steven Neo.
Common Butterflies in Singapore
The Lime Butterfly, Lemon Emigrant, Common Palmfly are commonly found in Housing Estates and urban areas while the Common Grass Yellow, Chocolate Pansy, Painted Jezebel, Striped Albatross and Orange Emigrant are commonly seen in parks and open grassland.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Life Cycle
The complete life cycle of the butterfly is known as metamorphosis. The cycle encompasses four stages - egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly.
The Egg
The cycle begins when the female butterfly lays her eggs on the appropriate plant. Caterpillars are very finicky eaters. Particular plants are food for particular caterpillars, and nothing else will do. For example, the Monarch and Queen prefer milkweed, the Black Swallowtail dill or parsley, and the Gulf Fritillary passionvine. You would never find a Monarch caterpillar feeding on passionvine or a Gulf Fritillary feeding on milkweed. Eggs come in all shapes and sizes - spherical, conical, ribbed or smooth, and are laid either singly or in clusters.
Above 1: A Monarch depositing eggs on Milkweed
The Caterpillar
From the egg emerges the caterpillar, which has one purpose in life - to eat. The caterpillar grows rapidly and will shed its skin, or molt, several times, since the skin does not stretch to accommodate new growth. The caterpillar readies itself for the next stage either by spinning a silken pad from which it hangs head down, attached by its rear legs, or by spinning a silken girdle whereby the head is upright. The final molt of the caterpillar's skin reveals the chrysalis.
Above 2: Giant Swallowtail (Heraclides cresphontes) caterpillar
The Chrysalis
Outwardly, the chrysalis stage is inactive, but there is great activity within. In a process which is not fully understood, the old caterpillar body transforms into that of the adult butterfly. Usually just prior to the time when the butterfly will emerge, the chrysalis becomes transparent so that the butterfly can be seen within.
Above 3: Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) chrysalis
The Butterfly
The chrysalis splits open and the butterfly, its wings crumpled and its body bloated, crawls out. It immediately begins pumping fluid from its body into its wings. (For complete sequence, see Emerging from the Chrysalis.) In about half an hour, the wings are fully extended and the body has assumed its final, slim shape. Before it can fly, the butterfly must "dry out" for a couple of hours. It will remain inactive, its wings hanging slightly apart. When ready the butterfly will take to the wing, searching for food and a mate, and the cycle starts over again.
Above 4: Queen (Danaus gilippus)
The Egg
The cycle begins when the female butterfly lays her eggs on the appropriate plant. Caterpillars are very finicky eaters. Particular plants are food for particular caterpillars, and nothing else will do. For example, the Monarch and Queen prefer milkweed, the Black Swallowtail dill or parsley, and the Gulf Fritillary passionvine. You would never find a Monarch caterpillar feeding on passionvine or a Gulf Fritillary feeding on milkweed. Eggs come in all shapes and sizes - spherical, conical, ribbed or smooth, and are laid either singly or in clusters.
Above 1: A Monarch depositing eggs on Milkweed
The Caterpillar
From the egg emerges the caterpillar, which has one purpose in life - to eat. The caterpillar grows rapidly and will shed its skin, or molt, several times, since the skin does not stretch to accommodate new growth. The caterpillar readies itself for the next stage either by spinning a silken pad from which it hangs head down, attached by its rear legs, or by spinning a silken girdle whereby the head is upright. The final molt of the caterpillar's skin reveals the chrysalis.
Above 2: Giant Swallowtail (Heraclides cresphontes) caterpillar
The Chrysalis
Outwardly, the chrysalis stage is inactive, but there is great activity within. In a process which is not fully understood, the old caterpillar body transforms into that of the adult butterfly. Usually just prior to the time when the butterfly will emerge, the chrysalis becomes transparent so that the butterfly can be seen within.
Above 3: Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) chrysalis
The Butterfly
The chrysalis splits open and the butterfly, its wings crumpled and its body bloated, crawls out. It immediately begins pumping fluid from its body into its wings. (For complete sequence, see Emerging from the Chrysalis.) In about half an hour, the wings are fully extended and the body has assumed its final, slim shape. Before it can fly, the butterfly must "dry out" for a couple of hours. It will remain inactive, its wings hanging slightly apart. When ready the butterfly will take to the wing, searching for food and a mate, and the cycle starts over again.
Above 4: Queen (Danaus gilippus)
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Amazing Bodies
A butterfly gets its color from its loose, powdery scales. In fact, the name Lepidoptera comes from the Greek for “scaly wings.” If you rub the scales off, the wings become transparent and membranous, like those of a fly. Some species, like the pale ones below, have naturally few scales. See pictures above.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Is this a moth or a butterfly?
Butterflies and moths both belong to a group of insects called "lepidoptera", meaning that they have wings covered with scales. They are related in many ways. Butterflies are generally brightly-colored while moths are generally drab, though they are many dramatic exceptions to this.
Almost all butterflies are active during the day, and most (but by no means all) moths are active at night.
A good way to tell the difference is by their antennae. Butterfly antennae are shaped somewhat like a golf club, with a long shaft. Most moths have either simple filaments tapering to a point, or complicated affairs with many cross-filaments.
See below for pictures.
Almost all butterflies are active during the day, and most (but by no means all) moths are active at night.
A good way to tell the difference is by their antennae. Butterfly antennae are shaped somewhat like a golf club, with a long shaft. Most moths have either simple filaments tapering to a point, or complicated affairs with many cross-filaments.
See below for pictures.
Background
As part of the Pulau Ubin nature guide's training, I am supposed to present different facades of BUTTERFLIES on a scrap book. After racking my brains for some innovative ways of making the scrap book, I have decided to do it right here! More awareness and less wastage best of both worlds.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
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