Why are butterflies important?
Butterflies, bees and many other insects play important roles in pollinating many different plants. Some plants have even developed ways to attract butterflies. Some plants produce clusters of tiny blossoms so that the butterfly can maximize feeding while minimizing effort. Some flowers take advantage of a butterfly’s ability to see in ultraviolet, producing markings that humans cannot see but that butterflies and other pollinators can. This pollination benefit is countered by the destruction waged by caterpillars on their host plants. It’s a love/hate relationship. Butterflies also play an important role in food webs. Birds, small mammals, reptiles and spiders all eat butterflies! Birds especially like to eat caterpillars. Predation has given rise to all of the spectacular warning patterns on butterfly wings.
