THE HOUSE OF
BUTTERFLIES
Curiosities of THE HOUSE OF BUTTERFLIES
Do you know how long butterflies live? How big is the world’s largest butterfly? And the smallest? How different species of butterfly are known? How many eggs do female butterflies lay? Here we give you a taste of just some of the many curiosities of the world of butterflies.
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Did you know that …?
There are around 20,000 known species of butterfly and moth, but many are still to be discovered.
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Did you know that …?
Some butterflies and moths have proboscis that are as long as their bodies.
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Did you know that …?
Many eastern cultures believe that butterflies and moths are the reincarnation of a person’s soul. The Greek word for ‘butterfly’ means ‘spirit’ or ‘soul’.
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Did you know that …?
The scales on the wings of butterflies and moths do not help them fly. Instead, they help them absorb the warmth of the sun and enable them to heat up their bodies.
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Butterflies and moths smell with their legs.
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The first butterflies and moths appeared 150 million years ago and lived at the same time as the great dinosaurs.
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The world’s largest butterfly or moth is over 30-cm long; the smallest is less than 3-mm long.
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Some species of butterflies and moths are long-distant migrants that travel thousands of kilometres.
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In some species of butterflies and moths males can detect females at a distance of up to 5 km.
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In some species of butterflies and moths females lay up to 4,000 eggs.
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Did you know that …?
The live cycles of butterflies and moths vary from species to species. Some live for just a few days, while others can live up to 9 months.
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Did you know that …?
Not all butterflies and moths are symbols of purity and beauty — some are in fact poisonous.