The Disgusting Truth About Butterflies

Discussion in 'Science & Nature' started by Chrissy Cross, Jun 14, 2016.

  1. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    I always thought of them as one of the more beautiful insects, I'm not too fond of most insects but I considered butterflies differently. I was looking at butterflies on the internet today and came across a few different articles about what they eat. Gross! I'm sure other insects might also eat gross things but it kind of turned me off of butterflies.

    http://mentalfloss.com/article/63521/7-disgusting-things-butterflies-eat
     
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  2. Joe Riley

    Joe Riley Supreme Member
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    ...avoid Monarchs.;)
    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    I love Mental Floss, however.
     
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  4. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Yes, me too.
     
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  5. Shirley Martin

    Shirley Martin Supreme Member
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    They also eat bird poop. I have swallows that nest under my carport and the butterflies feast on their poop. :D
     
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  6. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Yuck, that makes me sick.....well if they eat it all you don't have to clean it.


    image.jpg
     
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  7. Shirley Martin

    Shirley Martin Supreme Member
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    Hey, everbodys gotta be somewhere. :D:D
     
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  8. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Do you get a lot of butterflies, Shirley? I really don't see many at all. I also don't see lightening bugs.
     
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  9. Krissttina Isobe

    Krissttina Isobe Veteran Member
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    So beautiful butterflies are yet they have a purpose. Lucky we aren't butterflies! Here in Hawaii we have the monarch butterfly and I've seen a yellow butterfly too. We have a Butterfly Society in Hawaii, here is their site: http://butterflysocietyofhawaii.org/. So far I've seen butterflies go to flowers on Oahu for food.
    I've seen where I go on Oahu these butterflies: The Monarch butterfly.

    [​IMG]

    I've seen a yellow butterfly flying around our neighborhood all the time, so lovely to see.
    [​IMG]
     
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  10. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    I've always been a fan of those beautifully-decorated Cecropia moths. We had them in Phoenix area. Much larger than Monarchs, about twice their size.

    [​IMG]
     
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  11. Joe Riley

    Joe Riley Supreme Member
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  12. Ike Willis

    Ike Willis Supreme Member
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    I'll never eat another butterfly again.
    th (5).jpeg
     
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  13. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    I've only seen butterflies on flowers also, Krissttina.

    Not far from me and right before Yosemite National Park is the town of Mariposa (Spanish for butterfly) and they have a butterfly festival every year. I've been through the town but not at the time of the festival but I do remmeber stopping there and they have a wall of butterflies.

    http://www.yosemite125th.com/events/mariposa-butterfly-festival/

    Also Pacific Grove, CA. A town near my daughter is famous for Butterflies and there is a parade every year. I've been to that many times when the grandsons were smaller.
     
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  14. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    I wasn't aware of that until I saw it mentioned in the Good Morning thread...ugh. I also like butterflies, but had no idea. I guess it's true that we all serve a greater purpose. There's a butterfly garden a few miles down the road, and I walk there sometimes. I also have butterfly visitors on my balcony. They like the Mandevillas and jasmine. They enjoyed the gardenia before it died, too. I think when the weather cools off a bit I'll drive down there and go for a walk. It's right by my library, so perhaps I can combine my walk with a trip to pick up some books.
     
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  15. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    I was surprised when I read the info yesterday, just thought they flitted on flowers. Guess there's always more to everything than we thought, but it makes sense since they can only eat liquid or soft things. Forgot what it was called but they eat like they are sucking through a straw.

    Trip to the library sounds nice, Diane.
     
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