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    Home » Primary Science » Key Stage 1 Science » Animals » Why are butterflies brightly coloured?

    Why are butterflies brightly coloured?

    April 25, 2022 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

    You might think the brightly coloured wings of butterflies make them stand out to other animals but the colours are often a defence mechanism to deter predators!

    Why are butterflies brightly coloured?

    • Bright colours act as a warning to other animals that the butterfly doesn’t taste nice or is poisonous.
    • Some species are coloured for camouflage, making it hard for predators to spot them.
    • Some also have eyespots to make other animals think they are bigger than they are.
    Monarch butterfly feeding
    The brightly coloured wings of the Monarch butterfly act as a warning to predators

    The owl butterfly has a large eye spot making the wings look like the face of an owl!

    Owl butterfly
    Tropical butterfly, owl butterfly (Caligo eurilochus)

    Butterflies also use their bright colours to attract a mate.

    What about caterpillars?

    Butterfly larvae are called caterpillars. Like butterflies, some blend into their environment and don’t move around much in the day, some are hairy which makes them unattractive to predators and some are brightly coloured which acts as warning to predators that they are toxic.

    Do you know what the biggest butterfly in the world is called?

    This butterfly identification sheet is brilliant from the Wildlife Trusts.

    Camouflage activities

    Place different colours of small sections of string on grass. Which are easiest to see?

    Use different materials to create a camouflage outfit for a small soft toy. Try placing it in different areas outdoors to find out where the camouflage works the best.

    Image of a brightly coloured butterfly

    Last Updated on July 18, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

    « Edible Butterfly Life Cycle
    Make a Journey Stick »

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    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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