FLYING CREEPY CRAWLERS Why did the first insects fly You might as well ask why plants began producing flowers about 150 million years ago The answer in both cases is because it helped them survive And in fact plants produce their colorful scented flowers to attract insects and other animals to pollinate them The first winged insects appeared on Earth around 400 million years ago when plants began to grow taller and produce the first forests So having wings enabled early insects to avoid predators and later to feed on pollen and nectar just as modern bees butterflies and other insects do Wings are so important to insects that most of the major groups are named after them using the Greek word pteron for wing For example dragonflies and damselflies which were among the first insects to fly belong to the Palaeoptera old wings group These descriptive names can help us identify insects Beetles Coleoptera or hardened wings keep their hind wings folded away under tough protective forewings Mayflies Ephemeroptera or short-lived winged have a brief adult life often lasting just a few hours
Head Antenna Forewing Thorax Halteres Abdomen Leg Winged insects can be amazingly big beautiful fast or even dangerous and they’re incredibly diverse The best part is there are many many flying creatures out there even in your own neighborhood
MEGA WINGS When a male butterfly courts a female he hovers over her and showers her with perfume-like scents which are called pheromones This chemical courtship encourages her to mate with him The male also chases away rival butterflies and even birds Relax buddy I was just after some nectar Phew you’re stinky You’re not so fresh either Birdwing caterpillars taste bad This is because they feed on toxic vines and the poisons gradually build up in their body tissues surviving right through to adulthood They also have an osmeterium a stink organ behind the head that helps ward off intruders like this possum above Just ignore me You taste fine to me A birdwing pupa tied to a twig by a fine silken halter looks just like a curled-up leaf This brilliant disguise helps hide it from predators About the only predator that will tackle a birdwing is the Nephila orb weaver a very large spider that doesn’t mind the bad taste of the butterfly’s toxins 8
BIRDWING BUTTERFLIES These beautiful butterflies belong to the swallowtail group With their long wings and strong flight they have been likened to birds hence the name They are also the biggest of all butterflies Queen Alexandra’s birdwing found in Papua New Guinea has the largest wingspan nearly 10 inches 254 millimeters Thanks to the toxins in their diet birdwings are rarely troubled by predators CAIRNS BIRDWING ORNITHOPTERA EUPHORION Lifespan up to 3 months Size body length 2 8 inches 70 mm wingspan 5 6 inches 127 152 mm VIVID MALES Rajah Brooke’s birdwing is the national butterfly of Malaysia Like other birdwings the green and-black male is more vividly marked than the female There are strict laws about collecting birdwings which are rare in the wild Most species can be raised COLLECTION in captivity though
