Question

Mouth parts of butterfly are-
A) Sponging
B) Siphoning
C) Biting and Chewing
D) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Insects possess a different range of mouthparts according to the type of feeding habits. The mouthparts of hexapods are highly specialized and the most primitive ones include the chewing type. They depict a multitude of different functional mechanisms.

Complete answer:
Certain insects feed by sucking fluids from their prey. They do not bite or chew neither they feed by sponging and sucking. The most common example of insects with these types of mouthparts is Butterflies and moths.
Butterflies belong to Lepidoptera and bear siphoning type mouthparts. It is composed of-
• Labrum (Basal and rectangular)
• Mandibles (a pair, reduced)
• Pair of maxillae which forms a long proboscis (coiled internally and comes out at food stimulus)
• Paired labial and maxillary palps
• Hypopharynx absent

Proboscis- It is the defining character of butterflies. After receiving the food stimulus it extends to suck nectar from flowers. It is specialized in galeae.
Now, let’s have a look at the other types of mouthparts-
• Sponging- The housefly possesses sponging type mouthparts.
• Biting and chewing- Grasshoppers, Beetles, cockroaches are common examples. The mouthparts include the following-
• Labrum
• Mandibles
• Maxillae
• Hypopharynx

Note:
> Some Lepidopterans larvae have reduced or no mouthparts at all.
> Every insect possesses a unique type of mouthparts.
> The biting and chewing type mouth parts dominate the insect world and they are the most studied type of mouthparts so far.