Butterfly Anatomy

Butterfly Anatomy Butterfly Anatomy Printout

Butterflies are flying insects with two pairs of scaly wings and two segmented, clubbed antennae. Like all insects, they have a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), 3 pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and a segmented exoskeleton. 

Butterfly Physiology: 

FUNCTION	STRUCTURE IN BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS
Body structure and protection	An exoskeleton made of chitin, a type of protein
Respiration (breathing) and Circulation of oxygen	Spiracles (9 pairs in butterflies) are pores open to the air and tracheae (air tubes) carry air through the body. Gas exchange occurs at the tiny ends of the tracheae. A very inefficient system which limits the size of butterflies. Spiracles are located on the abdomen and thorax.
Circulation of oxygen	Tracheae
Circulation of blood (for nourishment, not oxygen)	A long, tubular heart (dorsal vessel) and hemocoel
Digestive System	Proboscis, pharynx, foregut (the crop), midgut, hindgut, and anus
Storage of food energy	Fat body
Excretion of wastes	Malpighian tubules, long filaments which clean the blood and put the waste (urine) into the hindgut (rectum)
Nervous system	Brain, ventral nerve cord, ganglia, peripheral nervous system (PNS) and visceral nerves.
Sense of balance (especially while flying)	Johnston's organ (located at the base of the antennae).
Reproduction	Ovaries (female) and testes (male)

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