Watch Our Animals online: Episode 6 Butterflies

They are insects. There are thousands of different butterflies. They have huge eyes so they see very well. Between the eyes they have antennae. They use their antennae to smell. A butterfly's main food is nectar. The mouth is a long tube under the head. It's called a proboscis. It's used for sucking. It's a bit like a drinking straw. When not feeding the proboscis is curled up under its chin. There are special hairs on a butterfly's feet to taste through. Wow! Imagine being able to taste through your feet! Butterfly wings are covered with tiny scales that overlap. The scales give the wings their colour and pattern. Butterflies can't fly if it's too cold. When the air is very cool they have to warm up their flight muscles either by sunning their bodies or shivering their wings. Once they have made themselves warm enough, they can fly.

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