Question

Sketch, label, and classify butterflies.

Answer 1

Hint: Butterflies have a four-stage insect life cycle and each of them has a different morphological and anatomical structure. However, an adult butterfly possesses an insect-like body with two large colorful wings.

Complete answer:
Here is the sketch of a butterfly:

Butterflies are insects that belong to the order Lepidoptera of the class Insecta. The adult butterfly has large colorful wings and can fly. There are seven subfamilies of butterfly which are listed below-

Family	Common name
1. Hedylidae	American moth butterfly
2. Hesperiidae	Skipper
3. Lycaenidae	Blues, coppers, hairstreaks
4. Nymphalidae	Brush footed or four-footed butterfly
5. Papilionidae	Swallowtails
6. Pieridae	Whites and allies
7. Rionidae	Metalmarks

Structure: The adult butterfly has two pairs of scaly wings and two-segmented antennae with clubs. Their body consists of head, thorax, and abdomen and has 3 pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and an exoskeleton that is segmented in nature. The exoskeleton is made of chitin and protects the internal organs. For Respiratory functions, they possess 9 pairs of spiracles and trachea that carry air through the body. Spiracles are located mainly on the thorax as well as the abdomen. Circulation of oxygen occurs through the trachea. Transportation of nutrients occurs through the blood that is pumped by a long tubular heart. The digestive system consists of the proboscis, pharynx, foregut, midgut, hindgut, and anus. The nervous system comprises the ventral nerve cord, ganglia, PNS, visceral nerves with the Brain. They are unisexual organisms with ovaries as reproductive organs in females and testes in males.

Note: Butterflies have a four-stage life cycle- Egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult butterfly. The adults lay their eggs on the food plants which their caterpillars feed on after hatching. They grow very rapidly and develop into a pupate. When the metamorphosis gets completed the adult butterfly comes out and flies off. They are polymorphic and their wings have various colors that help them in camouflage, mimicry, and aposematism to evade their prey.