Descriprion of the structure and life processes in a citrus swallowtail butterfly

1. BUTTERFLY
ABDUL HAMEED ABUBAKAR ( 23/03/2020)

2. BUTTERFLY
Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order lepidoptera
Habitat- gardens, citrus plantations
Body structure - As in all insects, the body is divided into three
sections: the head, thorax, and abdomen. The thorax is composed of
three segments, each with a pair of legs.

3. ANTENNA: In most butterflies the antennae
are clubbed.
MOUTH: The mouth is modified into a long
proboscis that can be coiled when not in use
for sipping nectar from flowers

4. WINGS
They have 2 pairs of coloured wings that are covered with scales. These
scales give butterfly wings their colour. They hold their wings vertically
above their bodies when at rest.

5. LIFE CYCLE
The type of life cycle in butterflies is called complete metamorphosis.
egg-->larva-->pupa-->adult

6. LIFE CYCLE
Winged adults lay eggs on the food plant on which their larvae, known as
caterpillars, will feed. The caterpillars grow, sometimes very rapidly, and
when fully developed, pupate in a chrysalis. When metamorphosis is
complete, the pupal skin splits, the adult insect climbs out, and after its wings
have expanded and dried, it flies off.

8. LARVA / CATERPILLAR
Butterfly larvae, or caterpillars, consume plant leaves and spend
practically all of their time searching for and eating food. Although most
caterpillars are herbivorous, a few species.

9. BUTTERFLY LARVA / CATERPILLAR
❖ Caterpillars have short antennae and several simple eyes.
❖ The mouthparts are adapted for chewing with powerful mandibles and a pair
of maxillae.
❖ Butterfly caterpillars have three pairs of true legs on the
thoracic segments. These legs are maintained to become the adult legs
❖ They also have six pairs of prolegs arising on the abdominal segments. These
prolegs have rings of tiny hooks called crochets that help the caterpillar grip
the substrate.
❖ The prolegs will disappear

10. BUTTERFLY LARVA

11. DEFENSE IN THE CATERPILLAR
Caterpillars have developed some interesting techniques to
protect themselves. These include
1. CAMOUFLAGING- Many caterpillars resemble plant parts, bird droppings, or
may just look frightening to scare off predators.

12. DEFENSE IN CATERPILLAR
2. Swallowtail caterpillars also have an osmeterium, an interesting looking Y-shaped
gland that protrudes out from above their head producing a smelly scent. The odour
from the osmeterium wards off predators.
3. Some caterpillars are able to save plant toxin in their bodies, making them
poisonous to predators.
4. Some of them may mimic other poisonous caterpillars while being completely
harmless. They look like poisonous caterpillars to scare off predators
5. Some also have stinging body hairs to prevent getting eaten

13. PUPA
❖ The fully mature caterpillar stops feeding and finds a suitable place to pupate.
❖ It spins a silk pad on a twig of the plant and attaches its claspers to it.
❖ The pupa is brown in colour and allows it to blend with its environment.
❖ The pupa is immobile and does not feed.
❖ Growth and tissue reorganisation takes place within the case.
❖ Compound eyes , antennae, wings, proboscis, and reproductive organs are
formed during this stage.
❖ The pupal stage lasts for eleven days. At the end of the pupal stage, the case
splits along the dorsal region of the thorax and the young adult climbs out.
❖ It rests for a while while the wings dry up before flying.

14. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF
BUTTERFLIES
1. Butterflies are important pollinators to most agricultural crops.
2. Butterflies are also a food source to predators like birds, spiders, lizards and other
animals
3. Caterpillars produce silk
4. Caterpillars cause damage to crops and farms. E.g the larvae of diamondback
moth and the fall armyworm cause enormous damage to cabbage and maize
farms respectively.
5. Butterflies are used for beautification purposes