<div><p>Of all insects, butterflies are the most beautiful and the least pesky. They don't bite and they add beauty and color to the outdoors. Plus, what other creature gets to transform from a fat caterpillar to a delicate-winged insect?</p><p>Butterflies aren't just pretty to look at. There are a lot of cool things about them I bet you didn't know! Check it out:</p><p><strong>1. A group of butterflies is called a "flutter."</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/191fd29d0c55529eb989bf1f6c4f9db5-1.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/191fd29d0c55529eb989bf1f6c4f9db5-1_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Pinterest</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>2. Butterflies taste with their feet.</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/close_up_of_a_butterfly_02_by_s_kmp-d6wbpwj_GH_content_1550px.jpg 1550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Deviant Art</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>3. After it emerges from its cocoon, a butterfly's first meal is its own eggshell.</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/emerging_butterfly_wide.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/emerging_butterfly_wide_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/emerging_butterfly_wide_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Institute for Creation Research</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p><strong>4. Butterflies don't poop - they use everything they eat as energy.</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/11300657114_6095688795_b.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/11300657114_6095688795_b_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/11300657114_6095688795_b_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/11300657114_6095688795_b_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/11300657114_6095688795_b_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/11300657114_6095688795_b_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Pedro Lastra Fickr</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>5. Every butterfly actually has transparent wings. Any pattern or color you see is a reflection of tiny scales covering the wings.</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/glasswinged-butterfly-top-view.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/glasswinged-butterfly-top-view_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/glasswinged-butterfly-top-view_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/glasswinged-butterfly-top-view_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Twisted Sifter</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>6. Caterpillars are so loud when they eat, you might be able to hear them munching if there are many in one place.</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/b-swal-c.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/b-swal-c_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Backyard Nature </cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p><strong>7. Whoa there! The Skipper butterfly can fly faster than a horse can gallop.</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/12CommonCheckered-Skipper-8031249401_f372860097_h.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/12CommonCheckered-Skipper-8031249401_f372860097_h_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Howard Birds</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>8. Groups of butterflies that feed on minerals from wet soil are called "puddle clubs."</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/2574cffbdcfb82510ee5b9746f2dfc3c.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/2574cffbdcfb82510ee5b9746f2dfc3c_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Pinterest</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>9. The bright colors on a butterfly's wings deter predators because many brightly-colored species have toxic chemicals in their bodies.</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/monarchbutterflyusfwrickhansen.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/monarchbutterflyusfwrickhansen_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/monarchbutterflyusfwrickhansen_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/monarchbutterflyusfwrickhansen_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Nature Works</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>10. The largest butterfly in the world is the Queen Alexandra in Papua New Guinea, and they can have a wing-span of up to 10 inches.</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/overland05-1128133200-19-butterfly.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/overland05-1128133200-19-butterfly_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Clay Transformations</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Did you know any of these? Let us know in the comments!</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>Sources: [<a href="http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/2015/03/15/19-fascinating-butterfly-facts/">San Diego Zoo</a>], [<a href="http://www.defenders.org/butterflies/basic-facts">Defenders of Wildlife</a>], [<a href="http://www.roxannereid.co.za/blog/10-weird-and-wacky-facts-about-butterflies">Roxanne Reid</a>]</p></div>
Animals | Uplifting | Trending