Most insects have extremely short lifespans. Butterfly caterpillars are highly efficient at feeding and growing. As a prized food for many animals, some caterpillars have evolved elaborate means for survival, including camouflage coloration, mimicry, and sharp spines. Some tropical caterpillars feed on poisonous plants, absorbing the toxins to repel predators. In the Queen Alexandra birdwing, it takes about four months from egg to the emergence of the adult butterfly.
Scientists can only guess why many butterflies are so brightly colored.
One theory is that, like some birds, color and pattern are used to attract a mate. It may also be a form of camouflage, particularly in the tropical rain forest where intense colors do not stand out among dense pockets of shadow and bright patches of sunlight. Causes of Endangerment Habitat Loss Butterflies are in peril worldwide. In the United States, the Xerces Blue butterfly has vanished. In the British Isles, many species have become extinct, including the Large Copper butterfly.