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This small butterfly was found flying in the meadow here at the farm a couple of days ago. Although I shot photos from several angles, this is the one I chose to post because it shows a view that’s less often seen (click on image for a larger view). Many times, we see a butterfly with wings opened flat and the insect’s body nothing more than a narrow strip at the center. I wonder if we give much consideration to the insect that exists beneath? It’s almost as though the wings are a somewhat disembodied object of beauty. It’s difficult not to feel at least some small twinge of this truth when viewing butterfly collections. The specimens are really just pairs of wings with a fragile bit of desiccated body between. A little odd isn’t it? It’s almost as though someone were admired solely for their overcoat – never mind the being inside.

So, what’s beneath a butterfly’s wings? Generally, there’s a somewhat fuzzy or fluffy body consisting of a head, thorax and abdomen. The head is quite striking, with its large compound eyes, and long antennae with small clubs at the tips. Palpi can usually be seen at the front of the head, looking almost like a pair of horns. Between the palpi, the butterfly’s long proboscis is curled up like one of those party tweeters that you blow on to unroll. When feeding, the proboscis is extended to sip nectar from flowers. The palpi protect the coiled proboscis and are sensory organs as well.

Butterflies have 3 pairs of legs, but the foreward pair on many species are very small and often folded tightly against the thorax so that they are barely visible. That’s why many butterflies appear to have only four and not six legs. The legs have three parts — the femur (thigh), tibia (shin) and tarsus (foot). Each foot has sensory organs that make it possible for the butterfly to taste the plant upon which it alights.

This particular butterfly is quite small. I’m fairly certain that it’s a Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) and not a Northern Crescent. However, I’m not great at IDing these small butterflies, so I may well be wrong. I’ve posted a more traditional view below.

Tags: Pearl Crescent, Phycoides tharos, butterfly anatomy, antennae, compound eyes, palpi, proboscis, thorax, abdomen, femur, tibia, tarsus