Costa Rica is unusually blessed by the diversity of it's butterflies. There exists about 20,000 butterfly species worldwide. An Outline of Butterfly Physiology Butterflies are insects. The three most salient features of the head are the antennae, the eyes and the proboscis. The antennae are used for balance in flight and olfactory sensation.
Butterflies possess fragile wings.
The wings can wear easily through normal use. They can also be badly damaged by predators which when attacking the butterfly grab only the wing rather than the body. Despite the loss of even the majority of their wing surface area, a butterfly will continue to be able to fly and navigate. They can do this because of the sense of balance afforded them by their antennae. The antennae are also useful for smell.