animal+info

here you will see all creatures

=stinkbug= == class : insecta order: hemiptera suborder : heteroptera family : pentatomidae

known as the stinkbug because of it's abillity to spray an unpleasant odor if it is disturbed , this insect numbers over five thousand species and is specially adapted to its environments.

common blue butterfly

class insecta order lepidoptersa family lycaenidae genus and species polyommatus icarus

The brilliant color of the blue butterfly makes it easy to spot. Still identifying females may be difficultsince only the males display the bright blue wing color

The common blue butterfly is a member of a large family of butterflies. Both it and its other blue relatives are small and extremely fast in flight. However two of the blue species and most female blue butterflies are brown

=**special adaption**= The caterpillars of some species of blue butterfly are fed onby ants. The ants feed on the sugary secretions called honeydew that the caterpillars produce. Since the caterpillars provide food for the ant colony the ants detend them from predators. They sometimes even move the caterpillars to more convenient feeding places.

=did you know=
 * the wings of blue butterflies do not contain a blue cloration of male is actually the reflection of light from the thousands on tiny scales that cover the butterfly's wing suface.
 * Male common blue butterflies gather in groups to seach for liquids found in fresh dung and urine and in puddles along river banks This activity is known as mudpuddling and its purpose is to increase the males intake of minerals from witch they make thier sex hormones

=habitat= The small fast flying common blue butterfly is fairly wide spread throughout Great Britain. It can be found along with the adonis chalkhill and siver studded blue butterflies. Another related species the small blue butterfly is also found thoughout Great Britainand Europe's smallest butterfly. Still its numbers are far fewer than those of the common blue butterfly.

=**food and feeding**= The common blue butterfly is found in great numbers in England because its food grows in most areas of the country. these include vetch clover trefoil and other members of the pea family. Most blue butterflies feed on these plants but some species are more selective. The silver studded blue butterfly prefers grose broom and heather. Adult blue butterflies eat the sugary necter of wildflowers such as marjoram and thistle.

=breeding= The common blue butterfly produces two generations of offspring each year. Adilt butterflies hatch from the cocoon or chrysalis in the frist week of june. They then mate after witch the famales lay eggs singly on the upper side of food plant leaves. The eggs hatch after about nine days and the caterpillars initially feed on the undersides of the leaves. As they grow larger they shed their skin revealing the new soft skin below. The cterpillars have five growth stages called instars during witch they shed thier skin four times. By the end of July they change into chrysaliles on the soil beneath the food plant. In early august a second generationof butterflies hatches from the chrysalises. They mate and lay eggs again but the development of the caterpillars is halted as they hibernateover the winter. In the following spring they continue thier development forming chrysalises in early May and hatching in early June.


 * characteristics**
 * wings** 2 pairs overlaping
 * wingspan** upto 1in
 * coloration** Males are metallic blue females are brown
 * mouthparts** Caterpillars 1pair biting jaws butterflies sucking mouthpart called a proboscis rolled up under head when not in use


 * life cycle**
 * eggs** laid singly on leaves
 * egg to chrysalis** 6 months in first generation each year. 6 weeks in second generation.
 * chrysalis to pupation** 2 weeks

butterflies wildflower nectar
 * lifestyle**
 * diet** caterpillars leaves of plants
 * lifespan** 3 weeks as butterfly

hairstreak and copper butterflies
 * related species**

widspread throughout great britain blue butterfly species are found in North Americe Europe and North africa. intensive agriculture has demolished many former blue butterfly habitats leading to the extinction of the large blue butterfly. The smaller adonis butterfly is similarly threatened because of the loss of its food plants in many areas
 * distribution**
 * conservation**