Egg: Shape, color, & texture vary by species All have a depression at the top called the Micropile. Sperm enters this during fertilization. Covered in microscopic pores to allow air in. Eggs formed in the body of the female, laid externally. Females store sperm, and fertilize when they are ready. Females lay eggs singularly or in batches. They glue the eggs to leaves, in wet areas, or underside of leaves. 3 factors for egg laying: 1. Plant species 2. Precise Humidity 3. High up, away from herbivore grazing.
Larvae (caterpillar): 2 weeks- Eat egg shell when hatched. Feed on plants (mostly)-part of plant may depend on life stage. Trenching or mining behavior or toxic plants. Scolopidia-nerve cells trigger molting by detecting stretching in the elastic skin between body segments. Each molt stage=instar. Most have up to 6 instars New sink forms under the old, shed off starting at the head. Inflates body with air and fluids for molting. 1-2 hours before the body hardens they are vulnerable.
Caterpillars: Some are naked and some are furred. Hairs provide:.harder to swallow by predators.insulation.air pockets between hairs help them float in puddles.defense Some have venomous spikes General rule= solitary caterpillars are more palatable so they have more camouflage. Communal feeders are more toxic and have brighter colors.
Pupa: Wandering or dispersion phase. Spins silk button or girdle Anchors by their anal claspers or Cremaster. Hangs two days, prologs shrink, body segments enlarge, takes on hunchback shape. Skin splits, becomes legless in a non-eating phase called pupa, and hardens into chrysalis. No soup but the stem cells develop from segments into wings and other body parts. Emerge: Those with silk cocoons secret solvents from their proboscis to dissolve the cocoon. Others use body fluid pressure. Pump fluids into wings and body. Remove metabolic waste= Meconium. Females may release pheromones 2-3 days before emergence.
EYES: Compound 1,7000 Oomatidia-individual light receptors 360 degree mosaic view Lenses can t focus Can detect each oomatadium separately See polarized light and sun even on cloudy day, as well as UV light Detect UV light patterns of flowers Also detect UV light patterns on wings HEAD: Magnetic detection for migration and magnetic fields Labial Palpi-small projections covered in olfactory sensors. PROBOSCIS: Pair of interlocking channels that for a tube like straw. Coiled when stored, and unfurled to drink. Two sections can be uncoupled if it s clogged or needs to be cleaned. Olfactory sensors on tip, taste nectar, pollen, dung, minerals, natal plants, etc.
ANTENNAE: Always clubbed at the tip Covered in hairs or olfactory pits (~130,000) Radar for pheromones and nectar Communicate physically Used to taste or dip for soil chemistry Also used to detect humidity for egg laying Johnston s Organ-at base of antennae, covered in nerve cells called Scolopidia, which are sensitive to stretching and used to detect orientation, position, gravity, wind speed, and direction.
LEGS: 3 pairs of legs. On Nymphalidae (brush foots) front legs are modified as brush like stumps that are Chemoreceptors. On forelegs of some there s a flexible spur for cleaning antennae. Tibia of all legs have Subgenual Organ to detect and amplify vibrations. Middle leg especially covered in olfactory sensors to taste landing locations. Females use legs to chemically analyze plants as laying surfaces for eggs. Many have spurs on legs to pierce leaves.. ABDOMEN: 10 Segments Segments held together by flexible chitin Holds digestive system, hearts, sex organs Breathe through Sphiracles or tiny holes in sides of abdomen; through contraction of body, wings, etc. Reproductive organs are lock and key system Females have internal Ovipositor. Spinneretts used for attachment of cocoon and webs. BODY: Exoskeleton Covered in hairs or olfactory sensors Olfactory sensors on legs, antennae, thorax and abdomen. Open Circulatory System Hemolymph instead of bloodf blood.
WINGS: 2 pairs Membranes, are transparent but covered in scales Scales vary in shape 3 types of scales:.pigmentary: colors from plants eaten (red, black, white, yellow).structural: Diffraction or light bending (iridescent colors).androconia: Male butterflies, on forewings, raised dark structures with scent sacks of pheromones. Colors used for mate detection, warn predators, camouflage. Scales don t re-grow Rapid wing beats, up to 200 per second Wings used for body warming through vibration.
E. Tiger Swallowtail Female Male osmeterium Zebra Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail Black Swallowtail caterpillar and chrysalis
Clouded Sulfur Orange Sulfur Cabbage White Cloudless Sulfur S. Dogface
Banded Hairstreak Gray Hairstreak E. Tailed Blue Atlantic Holly Azure
N. Cloudywing Silver Spotted Skipper Sachem Dun Skipper
Pearl Crescent American Lady Painted Lady Mourning Cloak
Red Spotted Purple Eastern Comma Question Mark
Male Monarch Monarch Female Monarch Viceroy
A. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, B. Red Spotted Purple, C. Spicebush Swallowtail, D. Pipevine Swallowtail.
A. Zebra Swallowtail, B. Silver Spotted Skipper, C. Question Mark, D. Banded Hairstreak, E. Viceroy, F. Clouded Sulfur, G. American Lady