Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clad Rhopalocera from the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, conspicuous, fluttering flight and alluring colors on its wings moreover, various magnificent structures make them resplendent. Such butterflies are liked by everyone. They show various behaviors in its entire lifecycle.
1.Partnership for survival:
Butterfly has a miraculous life cycle. In its life as a larvae it shows partnership with ants. Caterpillars mimics the sound of ants for as king protection from predators. Army of Ants attends the caterpillar and protect them from was and other predators and in return caterpillar gives them fair by secreting sugary substances. This type of partnership is generally observed amongst blue butterflies and ants. This Give and take type of relationship is known as symbiotic relationship.
2.Butterflies are a botanist:
Butterflies are very peculiar when it comes to selecting Plant species as their host, Botanist may fail to identify Plant species but Butterfly can't, they identify host plants by tasting its sap and leaves. They don't lay eggs on plants other than its host species as they are host specific. If One put Caterpillar on plant other than its host plant it will die out in hunger but will note at upon other plant species.
3.Traveller Butterfly:
Butterfly prefers migration in unsuitable climatic condition especially when there is unavailability of food to them. Some monarch butterfly like tiger, crows, emigrants, etc. travels overlong distances in search of suitable climatic condition and food plants. Itis observed that butterflies migrates thousands of kilo meters, more migration increases their chances of survival in order to continue their race.
4.Patrolling and perching behaviour :
Patrolling and perching type of mating behaviour is observed in butterflies .In patrolling species, males spend its whole time in search of receptive females it flies continuously stopping only for feeding or in difficult wheather condition until it finds female for courtship. Perching male remains Immobile at place and uses' wait & watch 'technique. When a female comes under its visual field, male will fly from perching site and follows female for courtship.
5. Mimicking behavior.
Mimicry behaviour is often seen in birds, insects,etc. for their protection from danger. Butterflies have developed machanism in which they mimic unpalatable butterflies like, common crow which keeps them away from becoming prey of birds. Sometimes they eat poisonous plants and that poison is deposited in their body in order to get avoided by birds. Thus ,poison acts as a safeguard in protecting butterflies from birds.
6.Basking in sunlight:
Butterflies are piokilotherms (coldblooded) which enables them to bask in the sun's heat. They like sunbasking in cold season and often perch on flowers by opening their wings. Butterflies fails to survive in extreme climatic condition such as high temperature, in such adverse condition they prefers migration to suitable places. Sunbasking boost ability of Butterfly in flight. So, while preparing butterfly Gardens, ample amount of sunlight needs to be take into consideration.
7.Salt licking and minerals licking:
Salt licking is done by male butterflies to offer salt to their female while mating. Saltiest male is chosen by the female. They prefers Mud puddling for salt and mineral licking. Sometime it is found that butterfly licks bird's shit for salt/Minerals and also Mud puddling. Butterflies are observed in paddy fields along riverside which makes them indicators of wetlands.
8.Rivalry: Rivalry is common amongst every living individual for its survival which is applicable for butterflies too. These small fascinating creatures have rivals such as birds, wasps that acts as rivals for their host plant. "Jio jivasya jivanam" is the rule of life which holds true for Butterflies also as they feed up on nectar plant and then they are eaten up by birds.
Written By - Shubham kanure
Photos by : Mayur K, Krushnath G, Shubham chavan
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