Butterfly

Butterflies are a passive anthropoids found in the Lavender Meadow biome.

## Behavior

Butterflies fly around similar to bees. They cannot fly in the rain, and if out too long in the rain or water they'll start taking damage. They do not harm the player and they have no drops upon dying.

Particles are used in place of sound to help the player better understand what they're doing.

## Functionality

Butterflies are capable of pollinating and spreading flowers. By default with no player interference they will just produce nectar

#### Butterfly Nest

Butterflies without a nest will search for one if it's night or raining. They will enter their nest if they're tired, have nectar, or if it's night or raining.

Similar to bees and beehives, they will locate and go to a nearby butterfly nest. Once they enter it they will claim it as theirs, and will be able to pollinate flowers and breed with other butterflies.

#### Pollinating

Butterflies will only pollinate a flower if they have a nest, and it's been 2 minute since they last pollinated. When they do pollinate, it will take them 30-45 seconds to collect the flowers nectar. Each time they pollinate, they will acquire 3 nectar points. Once finished they will fly away with the flowers nectar. If they were not sent to pollinate from a player giving them a flower, they will proceed to take the nectar back to their nest.

If a butterfly has nectar while entering their nest, it will accumulate nectar based on how many nectar points the butterfly had when entering. Once the nest has 12 points the player will be able to use a glass jar to obtain the nectar.

#### Spreading Flowers

##### Requirements:

* Was befriended as a caterpillar.
* Has a nest
* They have slept within the last 15 minutes.
* It's been at least 2 minutes since they last pollinated.

When a player gives a small flower to a butterfly who meets the above requirements, they will sparkle and begin to search nearby for the same flower they were given. If they're successful in finding it, they will start the general pollination process.

Once finished pollinating, they will go to a nearby empty block from the original pos of the flower they pollinated. They will start to use one of the nectar points they collected to plant a new flower! They will do this until they use up all their nectar points, or can not find another nearby empty spot. In any case this process is cut short and they still have nectar they will return back to their nest.

#### Breeding

Butterflies breed similar to frogs & tadpoles. If two butterflies have a nest, when they are given a tall flower, (any flower with the tall flower tag) they will go in the nest and will begin to breed. Heart particles will appear above the nest. Once they're done a baby caterpillar will pop out!

## Caterpillars

Caterpillars are a mini mob, similar to tadpoles. They are essentially baby butterflies!

### Behavior

Caterpillars wander around aimlessly. They will eat full grown crops if any are nearby. This will increase their chance of aging up sooner, as they only age up after 20 in game minutes, or 24000 ticks. They can climb the ceilings and walls, somewhat similar to spiders.

### Befriending

A player can befriend a caterpillar by giving them any small flower. This will award the player with an achievement, "*Future Fluttering Friend*".

### Aging Up

When a caterpillar is ready to age up, they will start to move towards the nearest tree to create its chrysalis on. After around 30 seconds their chrysalis will be formed and will spend the next one game day in there. Once the time is up they will hatch into a butterfly!

Just like strawberry bushes, the biomes temperature in will greatly affect how long they’re in their chrysalis.

## History & Development

This aspect of this mod has taken me an unbelievable amount of time, planning how they'd function, their uses, their design, HOW I'd get them to work in the first place, their animation literally every aspect has been such a long process, it's just hitting me now they're actually out and finished...

Since 1.19 released and playing with frogs and tadpoles, it gave me the idea to make my butterflies have caterpillars! For the longest time I REFUSED to do that because embarrassingly I'm horrified of caterpillars. I caved and just did it, I had to do so much research on them to understand how they function and what they do. Since working on them I actually conquered my fear of them!!! LOL JUST KIDDING I'm still scared I just covered my eyes from any picture of them LMAO.

## Gallery

First ever test for butterflies on January 1st 2021.First real model and attempt at animation.Huge jump to a year later!A swarm!