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What a strange name for a critter – butterfly. We all know that butter cannot fly. Sure you could give it a good toss and it might make it a few feet before splattering on the ground. But really it’s more like “when pigs fly” kind of a situation. So where did this term come from? There are many theories out there, and yet not one distinct answer. Why not have fun exploring a few possibilities?…
One theory is that due to the golden/yellow color that some butterflies possess, it reminded people rather fondly of their favorite delicacy, butter. But as we all know, butterflies come in all shapes and colors. You could say, this theory is easy to dismiss.
There is a claim that the English word was translated from a Dutch word, “Boterschijte” which literally translates to butter s**t. When the Dutch were examining butterflies’ s**t they noticed a similarity to the visual and texture of butter. A bit on the gross side if you ask me, but there you go. Let’s move on.
We could get into the fact that people thought witches would turn into butterflies to search out dairy-based products – but I’m guessing you can sort out why we might not go down the path of that theory.
There are many terminologies for this critter across the world:
So where did the English term exactly originate from – well, who knows… but the fact that there are many terms and concepts makes sense. Butterflies can be found on every continent except Antarctica and they are pretty incredible insects so, of course, we as humans would want to name them.
Now, let us gather our fluttering thoughts, theories, and senses to focus on the butterfly at hand – the Schaus’ Swallowtail Butterfly.
William Schaus, was an early American Entomologist (A person who studies or is an expert in the branch of zoology concerned with insects. *Oxford Languages).
“In 1919 Schaus joined the Bureau of Entomology of the United States Department of Agriculture and, in 1921, began a long association with the Smithsonian Institution as an honorary curator of insects in the National Museum.” – Smithsonian Institution Archives
Schaus traveled around the Americas collecting various butterflies and the Schaus’ Swallowtail Butterfly was named in honor of his studies.
This butterfly is mostly covered in a black/dark brown color. With yellow and a bit of white, arched shapes cascading down the edges of its wings. And a splash of orange on its bottom wings.
Around 2.3 inches (5.8 centimeters) from wing to wing. And weighs about the same as a handful of feathers.
Like other butterflies, The Schaus’ Swallowtail has a tube-like mouth called a proboscis. They use this coiled tube to collect food from plants, flowers, fruits, and even salts and minerals off the ground.
Some of their taste sensors are located in the proboscis along with their antenna. But the majority of their taste comes from a place you might not suspect… their feet!
Why do butterflies have taste receptors on their feet? It is one of the key features of their anatomy. Allowing them to taste the plants and surfaces they land on to determine if it is a good place to eat or the right place to lay their eggs on.
You might recall learning about the lifecycle of a butterfly in elementary school. Maybe you even had a chance to watch the process yourself! Oh the magic of metamorphosis, is so fascinating. Here is a quick recap:
Egg > Larva (Caterpillar) > Pupa (Chrysalis) > Adult Butterfly
We will keep the other part PG – but if you know, you know.
From egg to an adult butterfly, the typical lifespan of a butterfly is one month, and often times less. Kinda crazy to think about! But their purpose during that short period of time is SO important, keep reading to find out why.
Butterflies are found across every continent, except Antarctica. They are much more hardy than one might think for such a delicate creature and can adapt to nearly any environment. They typically prefer warmer climates – in the woods or at least having enough vegetation to provide a home and food source.
The Schaus’ Swallowtail Butterfly is no different. They can be found in the tropical hardwood hammocks of the southern part of Florida, USA. At one time they were found further north but due to weather changes and conditions such as hurricanes, much of their population and habitat were destroyed.
Resources:
Haddad, Nick. “CHAPTER 7. SCHAUS’ SWALLOWTAIL”. The Last Butterflies: A Scientist’s Quest to Save a Rare and Vanishing Creature, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2019, pp. 160-186. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691189628-008
Photo Credit:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
You are the best! Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️