The order Lepidoptera is a large order consisting of numerous, fascinating species. Members of this fascinating order is also known as butterflies or moths. As most people know, Lepidopterans go through the amazing change from caterpillars to fully developed adults in a four-stage cycle: egg to larva to cocoon to adult.
Lepidopterans spend most of their lives in the pre-adult stage as a larva, also known as caterpillars. Caterpillars have a reinforced heads with chewing mandibles and soft, often hairy, bodies. Caterpillars are still considered to be insects despite the fact that many of them have more than three pairs of legs. This is because they have three pairs of 'true' legs and the rest of them are called prolegs, which are leg-like structures but do not possess the characteristics of a true leg, such as segments. While a majority of caterpillars are herbivores, a small percentage of caterpillars are carnivores or detrivores.
Many species of butterflies are famous for their ability to weave silks. When a caterpillar has developed sufficiently, it sheds its skin and turns into a chrysalis. It then either attaches itself to a vertical object, such as a plant stem, with some threads of silk, buries itself underground in a cell in rare cases, or encases itself in a shell of silk, commonly known as a cocoon.
Here are some Lepidopterans that we have caught so far.
Danaidae - Danaus - Danaus plexippus (Monarch butterfly): Commonly known as monarch butterflies, this one was one of the first arthropods caught. It was on my first outing with my good friend Alex Southmayd. Alex spotted the monarch and after a few minutes of chase, I finally caught it. It is by far the most splendid looking specimen, in my opinion. It is a male monarch, as it is marked by a black mark on its hindwing. I was more careful in pinning this butterfly than with any other butterflies I later caught.
Monarch butterflies are migratory, migrating south in the fall and back up north in the spring. The amazing fact is that it is not the same butterflies that migrate back. An adult monarch's lifespan is usually less than two months. Thus, the monarchs go through about two generations at their overwintering site and it is these later generations that trace their way back to their ancestor's habitat before the migration. Scientists are still trying to figure out how the monarchs manage to travel back to the same spot that they have never been to before.
The main food source for the monarchs is the milkweed plant. As larvae, the monarchs feed on the milkweed plants, which accumulates a toxic substance in their body. This foul tasting toxic substance prevents many predators from preying on monarch butterflies, though some predators have either grown some immunity or learned to eat only the parts where the toxin accumulates in lesser amounts.
Nymphalidae - Vanessa - Vanessa cardui (Painted lady):
Pieridae - Pieris - Pieris rapae (Cabbage white):
