Colors are produced by chemical pigments or by the physical structure of individual scales. Each scale is loosely attached to the wing with a small hinge. Temperature Regulation Butterflies are cold-blooded and are the same temperature as the air around them. On cool days, butterflies absorb heat from the sun in order to fly. Some butterflies are brightly colored as a warning to predators, others have the ability to camouflage themselves to hide from predators.
Butterflies change dramatically in size, shape and form during their entire life cycle.
The life of a butterfly begins when a female lays an egg. The hundreds of eggs laid by the female butterfly are tiny and vary in shape and color. Some eggs are laid singly and some in clusters. When caterpillars emerge, the first thing they do is eat their eggs. Each species of caterpillar eats only a certain kind of vegetation.