Why do butterflies fly so erratically?

Question

They can't be any less intelligent than a mosquito, which can fly very well, so why can't butterflies?

Thanks

Answer 1

This is just a shot in the dark, but I would guess that it has to do with their light weight and relatively large wing span. I would guess that they're pretty much prone to any miniscule air draft and as a result, tend to weave and dodge a bit as they fly.

Again, that's just a guess.

Answer 2

It may look erratic but...

Have you ever thought that the butterfly, with its jerky fluttering flight, is a ‘primitive’ and inefficient flyer? After all, its wings don’t look even remotely aerodynamic, compared to the beautifully streamlined ‘aerofoil’ wings of birds and airplanes.

Indeed, just 10 years ago, conventional laws of aerodynamics could not explain how any of the insects could fly at all, let alone manoeuvre so masterfully at low speeds—hovering and flying backwards and sideways, in complete control.

In the last decade, however, researchers have uncovered a variety of ‘unconventional’ ways that these gossamer aeronauts use their wings to stay aloft. For example, one particular flapping movement creates a spiralling airflow (vortex) along the edges of the wings, generating some of the lift which ‘conventional steady-state aerodynamics’ could not account for.

Now, after filming red admiral butterflies flying in a ‘wind tunnel’, researchers have been surprised by a whole range of complicated wing movements which generate more lift than simple flapping would do: ‘wake capture, two different types of leading-edge vortex, active and inactive upstrokes, in addition to the use of rotational mechanisms and the Weis-Fogh “clap-and-fling”? mechanism’. What is more, the red admirals often used completely different mechanisms on successive wing strokes!

So, rather than being ‘primitive’, we now understand that butterflies flutter because they choose each wing stroke from a customized armoury of twists, flaps, claps and flings. In the words of the researchers, ‘the fluttering of butterflies is not a random, erratic wandering, but results from the mastery of a wide array of aerodynamic mechanisms’. No wonder butterflies are so adept at taking off, manoeuvring, maintaining steady flight and landing.

http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/494

Answer 3

Lugo's got it - ever try to catch one? The Morpho in South America does even better - the wings are bright iridescent blue on top, but dull brown underneath, so every wingbeat is like a strobe flash. Combine that with the erratic, unpredictable flight, and it's almost impossible to grab if you hunt by sight. Butterflies have other tricks, too: eyespots, swallowtails, fake antennas, and of course poison (think Monarchs). It's a tough life being a daytime-flying, harmless, crunchy snack; without some sort of tricks, you don't last long.

Answer 4

The wing span and weight is more unproportional than their body and a fast movement changes the direction of flight until they soar or coast. This erratic movement protects them from birds and preditors that eat them. Its not intelligence but a case of doing with what you got.

Answer 5

sometime i became out in returned of my artwork (destroy-time) and that i observed this butterfly fly right into a small bush and stay sparkling of and weave around in there maximum completely. It became then that a found out that they are not on the sting of administration - fluttering maniacally - they're the wonderful at doing what they do. day after immediately i became walking and this butterfly flew previous me and flew right away into the facet of a construction!!! (So is going my concept on butterfly agility)

Answer 6

I released some night-flying moths in the daytime and birds just flew out and caught them effortlessly on the wing. It is easy to believe therefore that butterfly fly so randomly to stop birds eating them.

Answer 7

I believe that they are mimicking leaves falling from trees. They often have leaf mimic patterns and coloring. This would be leaf mimic mannerism.

Answer 8

Their wings are more bigger and more heavier than mosquitos

Answer 9

Alcohol. What else have they got to do to fill their time?
'fancy a drink' 'well, I was going to go over there and sit on a flower, but what the heck........'

Answer 10

the life span is very short.