Butterfli Chrysalis

Butterflies reproduce the same as other animals, sperm from the male fertilizes eggs from the female. The males recognize females from the same species by size, color, shape and vein structure of the wings as well as through pheromones. The male uses clasping organs on their abdomens to grasp the female. The female usually has a larger abdomen than the male in order to carry eggs. The male provides sperm as well as nutrients needed by the female to produce and lay eggs. The female stores the sperm in a bursa sac until ready to lay eggs. At which time the eggs are fertilized as she lays them. Depending on the species, the eggs may be laid one at a time or in batches of hundreds. The eggs, hatched in larva form, are usually attached to the underside of leaves because the caterpillars that hatch need to start eating immediately. The caterpillar will eat enough food to sustain during the transformation stage which takes place in the pupal stage when the butterfly is inside the chrysalis. An adult butterfly transpires from the chrysalis. Because the chrysalis has little defense from predators, very few make it to adulthood. Birds, bats and other insects prey on eggs and caterpillars. Other things that are a threat to the survival of the butterfly are fungi, diseases, human collectors, pesticides and habitat loss.

The ordinary colors are from chemical pigments such as chlorophyll and melanin. The structural colors are formed by the structure of the butterflies’ wings. Iridescence plays a large part in the structural coloring of