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A butterfly's anntenae.
© The Image Bank |
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Butterflies are extremely vulnerable to disturbances because they are dependent on wild plants and natural habitat. "They're a good barometer of what is happening in the environment, because when they disappear that tells you that most of the native plants that they depended on have changed or gone as well," explains Dr. Bruning. Butterflies are also harmed by agricultural pesticides aimed at eliminating other insect species. Says Bruning, "People have to accept that we sometimes may have to put up with a few more mosquitoes if we want to save our butterflies."
The Butterfly Body
Like all insects, butterflies have six legs and three main body segments: head, thorax and abdomen. Their ingenious design makes butterflies among the most specialized of insects.
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