Question 1
EasyA butterfly begins its life cycle as which of these?
- An egg (Correct answer)
- A chrysalis
- A cocoon
- A spider
Source: Every butterfly starts as a tiny egg, usually glued to a leaf the caterpillar will later eat.
Below is the full Quizmo quiz devoted to the theme "Butterflies": each question, its four options, the correct answer highlighted and, where available, its source. A chance to brush up on your general knowledge and then test what you know.
▶ Play today's quizA butterfly begins its life cycle as which of these?
Source: Every butterfly starts as a tiny egg, usually glued to a leaf the caterpillar will later eat.
What do most adult butterflies feed on?
Source: Butterflies sip sugary nectar through a coiled straw-like tongue called a proboscis.
The hungry larva that hatches and eats leaves is called a what?
Source: The caterpillar is basically an eating machine, sometimes growing a hundredfold before transforming.
How many wings does a butterfly have in total?
Source: Two forewings and two hindwings make four, though they often beat together so it looks like two.
The process of changing from caterpillar to butterfly is called what?
Source: Inside the chrysalis the caterpillar nearly dissolves into goo before rebuilding as a butterfly.
Which famously colorful butterfly migrates thousands of miles each year?
Source: Monarchs travel up to 3,000 miles to Mexico, a journey spanning several generations.
Butterfly wings get their patterns from millions of tiny what?
Source: Their order name Lepidoptera literally means 'scaly wing'; the dust on your fingers is those scales.
Butterflies are generally most active during which part of the day?
Source: Butterflies fly by day and bask in sun, while their cousins the moths mostly rule the night.
Surprisingly, butterflies can taste with which body part?
Source: Taste sensors on their feet let a butterfly know if a leaf is right for laying eggs.
The hard protective case a caterpillar forms before becoming a butterfly is a what?
Source: Butterflies make a bare chrysalis, while moths spin a silk cocoon around themselves.
Which sense do butterflies mainly use their antennae for?
Source: Antennae act like noses, sniffing out flowers and even mates from a distance.
Why are monarch butterflies poisonous to most predators?
Source: Caterpillars store toxins from milkweed plants, making adult monarchs taste foul to birds.
The phrase 'butterflies in your stomach' describes what feeling?
Source: The fluttery feeling comes from adrenaline reducing blood flow to your gut when you're anxious.
Roughly how long does an adult monarch butterfly typically live?
Source: Most adults live two to six weeks, though the generation that migrates can survive months.
Some butterfly wings have large round markings that mimic what?
Source: These 'eyespots' fool predators into thinking they face a much bigger, scarier animal.
What term describes a butterfly blending in to hide from predators?
Source: Many butterflies fold their wings to look like dead leaves, vanishing in plain sight.
The shimmering blue of a Morpho butterfly comes mainly from what?
Source: Their wings have no blue dye; microscopic structures bend light to create that electric shine.
In chaos theory, the 'butterfly effect' suggests small causes can do what?
Source: The idea: a butterfly flapping its wings could, in theory, help set off a distant tornado.
Where do North American monarchs mainly spend the winter?
Source: Millions cluster in central Mexico's fir forests, blanketing the trees in orange.
What was a butterfly chasing in the famous dream of philosopher Zhuangzi?
Source: Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly, then woke unsure if he was a man dreaming, or a butterfly dreaming.