interesting butterfly facts
July 27, 2010 | In: Animal facts for kids
Birdwing butterflies are the biggest butterflies in the world, with wingspans of up to 11 inches (28 cm). These colorful butterflies are so large that collectors once hunted them with bows and arrows!
They are found in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia and Australia, and are named after the narrow, slender shape of their forewings, which gives them a bird-like appearance as they fly.
There are approximately 20,000 species of butterflies.
The word butterfly comes from an old English word for butter churn, buttorfleoge.
Most butterflies prefer flowers that are pink, red, purple, or yellow and that are open all day.
Representations of butterflies are seen in Egyptian frescoes at Thebes, which are 3,500 years old.
The top butterfly flight speed is 12 miles per hour. Some moths can fly 25 miles per hour!
Butterflies “smell” with their antennae and “taste” with their feet