2006-08-04 03:24:04 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
they have antennae in which they suck the nectar from flowers
2006-08-04 03:27:59 · answer #1 · answered by Auntiem115 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Butterflies live primarily on nectar from flowers. Some also derive nourishment from pollen, tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and dissolved minerals in wet sand or dirt. Butterflies play an important ecological role as pollinators.
Antennae shape in the lepidoptera from C. T. Bingham (1905)As adults, butterflies are able to consume liquids only by means of their proboscis. They regularly feed on nectar and sip water from damp patches. This they do for water, for energy from sugars in nectar and for sodium and other minerals which are vital for their reproduction.
Several species of butterflies need more sodium than provided by the nectar they drink from flowers. As such, they are attracted to the sodium in salt (which the males often give to the females to ensure fertility). As human sweat contains significant quantities of salt, they sometimes land on people.
Besides damp patches, some butterflies also visit dung, rotting fruit or carcasses to obtain the essential minerals that they need.
2006-08-04 03:28:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A butterfly's diet consists of the nectar found in flowers. Some of these flowers are milkweed, butterfly bush, yarrow (achillea) and all types of sedums. I have some of these planted in my garden to attract butterflies and it seems to be working.
2006-08-04 03:31:25 · answer #3 · answered by Garfield 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They eat nectar from flowers. You can plant specific flowers to have a butterfly garden. They have long tongues called probiscus(not sure if it's spelled correct)
2006-08-04 03:29:47 · answer #4 · answered by hipchic 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Adult butterflies feed on nectar from flowers which they suck up through their mouth parts, the proboscis, which is the long curled tube on the front of the head. Artificially they may be fed on a solution of sugar and water and some on rotting fruit such as peaches. Butterfly larvae, caterpillars, eat various food plants using their mandibles, jaws, again situated on the front of the head. Please see below for a list of common food plants and the butterfly larvae that feed on them.
Butterflies
Red admiral: Stinging nettle
Comma: Stinging nettle, hop, currant, gooseberry
Common blue: Birdsfoot-trefoil, common vetch and similar
Holly blue :Holly, ivy
Brimstone: Alder buckthorn, purging buckthorn
Meadow brown: Soft grasses
Small copper: Sorrel, dock
Gatekeeper: Soft grasses
Small heath: Soft grasses
Orange tip: Lady's smock, garlic mustard, dame's-violet
Painted lady: Thistles, burdock, nettles
Peacock: Stinging nettles
Large skipper: Cocksfoot, other grasses
Dingy skipper: Birdsfoot-trefoil, horseshoe vetch
Small skipper: Grasses
Ringlet: Grasses
Small tortoiseshell: Stinging nettles
Speckled wood: Grasses
Wall: Coarse grasses
Green-veined white: Lady's smock, dame's violet, garlic mustard, watercress
Moths:
Burnet moth: Birdsfoot-trefoil, common vetch and similar
Cinnabar moth: Ragwort, groundsel
Elephant hawkmoth: Rosebay willowherb, clarkia, fuchsia
Lime hawkmoth: Lime
Eyed hawkmoth: Apple, willows
Poplar hawkmoth: Poplars, willows
Privet hawkmoth: Privet, lilac, ash
Hope that helps.
2006-08-04 04:02:27 · answer #5 · answered by Chariotmender 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Butter
2006-08-06 16:41:32 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have a coiled up tube called a proboscis, (not the antennae which are organs used to feel) this unrolls and sucks up nectar from flowers.
2006-08-04 03:35:38 · answer #7 · answered by mike-from-spain 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They drink nectar produced by flowers through their 'proboscis'
2006-08-04 03:30:22 · answer #8 · answered by phantasy_one 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honey, dear!
2006-08-07 20:30:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They suck the nectar from flowers!!!!!!
2006-08-04 03:29:39 · answer #10 · answered by hot mind 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋