Butterflies Have Super Power Senses

Butterflies and humans are not like each other. But we do have some things in common. We have the same senses like sight, sound, taste, smell and touch. But we use our senses differently. The senses of a butterfly are like super powers—Super Power Senses. Let’s explore how the senses of a butterfly help it to survive in its environment.

Sight is a super sense for butterflies. They have two large compound eyes. These eyes contain hundreds of lenses. The many lenses form a single image. Compound eyes see a very wide area. They are able to detect movements quickly. This helps them to avoid predators. Butterflies can see special colors that humans cannot see. These special colors guide them to the flowers with their favorite nectar. Butterflies also have two simple eyes, called ocelli. These eyes cannot focus on objects. They can only detect light and dark.

Butterflies do not have ears. They do not hear sounds the way we do. They “feel” sound vibrations through a special sense organ. It is located under their wings. This helps them to avoid danger, especially at night.

Butterflies eat with a proboscis. It works like a straw. Butterflies suck nectar from flowers and drink water. So can butterflies taste? Oh yes, they taste and smell with their feet, legs, palps and antennae. Isn’t that strange? Their sense organs are nerve cells with receptors that take messages to the brain. They are like the receptors in our nose and on our tongue. Butterflies depend on their senses of taste and smell to find their favorite foods. Many caterpillars are picky eaters. They only eat one type of leaves. The female butterfly must use her super senses to find the right plant to lay her eggs on.

Butterflies have a super sense of touch. Their entire bodies are covered with tiny sensory hairs called setae. The setae are attached to nerve cells. The nerve cells send information to the brain when something is touched. At the base of the antennae is the Johnston’s organ. It helps the butterfly to keep its balance when flying.

Butterflies are cold-blooded. They only live where it is warm enough. If butterflies are too cold, then they can’t fly. If they get too hot, they become dehydrated and die. When they need to warm up, butterflies bask in the sunlight. Some butterflies shiver their wings to raise their body temperature. The most common way of cooling is to crawl into the shade.

The butterfly’s super power senses are very powerful and help it to survive in its environment. Would you like to have compound eyes? Or be able to taste with your hands and feet? How would butterfly super power senses change your life?

Antennae—on the butterfly’s head, used to taste the air and help with balance

Compound eyes—thousands of tiny lenses see in all directions

Feet & legs—a butterfly can taste and smell nectar with its feet and legs

Johnston’s organ—at the base of the antennae, helps the butterfly balance and orient in flight

Ocelli—simple eyes that perceive light and dark

Palps—attached to the insect’s mouth and used for smell and to handle food

Setae—bristle-like hairs that are sensitive to touch

Wings—wings sense sound vibrations & regulate its temperature