 Butterflies are flying insects with two pairs of scaly wings and two segmented, clubbed antennae. Like all insects, they have a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), 3 pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and a segmented exoskeleton.
Butterfly Physiology:
| FUNCTION | STRUCTURE IN BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS | | Body structure and protection | An exoskeleton made of chitin, a type of protein | | Respiration (breathing) and Circulation of oxygen | Spiracles (9 pairs in butterflies) are pores open to the air and tracheae (air tubes) carry air through the body. Gas exchange occurs at the tiny ends of the tracheae. A very inefficient system which limits the size of butterflies. Spiracles are located on the abdomen and thorax. | | Circulation of oxygen | Tracheae | | Circulation of blood (for nourishment, not oxygen) | A long, tubular heart (dorsal vessel) and hemocoel | | Digestive System | Proboscis, pharynx, foregut (the crop), midgut, hindgut, and anus | | Storage of food energy | Fat body | | Excretion of wastes | Malpighian tubules, long filaments which clean the blood and put the waste (urine) into the hindgut (rectum) | | Nervous system | Brain, ventral nerve cord, ganglia, peripheral nervous system (PNS) and visceral nerves. | | Sense of balance (especially while flying) | Johnston's organ (located at the base of the antennae). | | Reproduction | Ovaries (female) and testes (male) | |
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