The thorax contains the muscles that make the legs and wings move. Butterflies are very good fliers. They have two pairs of large wings covered with colorful, iridescent scales in overlapping rows. Veins support the delicate wings and nourish them with blood. Butterflies can only fly if their body temperature is above 86 degrees.
Butterflies sun themselves to warm up in cool weather.
As butterflies age, the color of the wings fades and the wings become ragged. Slow flying butterflies fly about 5 mph. Egg - A butterfly starts its life as an egg, often laid on a leaf. The caterpillar will increase up to several thousand times in size before pupating. Adult - A beautiful, flying adult emerges.