Beauty Butterflies silently dance through the air, darting from one flower to the next. They delight the eye and symbolize independence and a free spirit. But butterflies are more than beautiful. They are important as plant pollinators and as food for other animals. Butterflies are very sensitive to changes in the environment, and help to warn us about unhealthy changes that may be taking place.
Butterflies possess some truly remarkable traits.
They are more sensitive to a broader range of light wave length than any other creature. The UV light enables them to see hidden ultraviolet patterns on flower petals which guide them to the heart of the nectar source. Each species exhibits characteristic flight patterns - gliding swallowtails, darting skippers, graceful mourning cloaks. Males guard vantage points and drive out intruding males. Only males group around edges of water puddles.