>>> BUTTERFLIES HAVE BEEN CALLED NIEG FLOWERS.

THERE'S MORE THAN 100 DIFFERENT KIND OF BUTTERFLIES IN THE WORLD.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE AMAZING INSECTS?

SCIENTISTS ARE STANDING BY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

STAY TUNED.

"D4K" IS NEXT.

>>> HI, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

WELCOME TO "D4K."

TODAY WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT BUTTERFLIES.

BEFORE WE GO TO THE STUDIO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, LET'S FIND OUT MORE.

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS ARE A GROUP OF IN, LIKE ALL INSECTS, BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS HAVE A HEAD, A THORAX, AN ABDOMEN, TWO AN 1088 AND SIX LEGISLATIONS.

BUTTERFLIES ALSO HAVE FOUR WINGS.

BUTTERFLIES START LIFE OUT AS AN EGG ATTACHED TO A LEAF OR STEM.

FROM THE EGG, A CATERPILLAR EMERGES AND STARTS EATING.

AFTER THE CATERPILLAR HAS GROWN, IT ATTACHES TO A STEM BY A LOOP OF SILK.

THE CATERPILLAR'S SKIN SPLITS DOWN THE BACK, AND A PUPA APPEARS.

WITHIN THE PUPA, THE CATERPILLAR'S TISSUES ARE CHANGED TO AN ADULT BUTTERFLY.

THE ADULT BUTTERFLY EMERGES, AND FLIES AWAY.

>> WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MOTH AND A BUTTERFLY?

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENCES.

BUTTERFLIES CAN BE COLORFUL, WHILE MOTHS TEND TO LOOK PRETTY DULL.

BUTTERFLIES' ANTENNA ARE SHAPED DIFFERENTLY, AND BUTTERFLIES ARE TYPICALLY ACTIVE IN THE DAYTIME, WHILE MOTHS ARE OUT AT NIGHT.

BUTTERFLIES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN NATURE.

THEY'RE POLLINATORS.

THEY FLY FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER, SUCKING UP NECTAR THROUGH A STRAW-LIKE MOUTH AND SPREADING THE FLOWERS' POLLEN TO OTHER BLOOMS.

WE NEED POLLINATORS TO HELP GROW OUR FOOD.

>> WHY ARE BUTTERFLIES SO COLORFUL?

>> BUTTERFLIES HAVE DIFFERENT COLORED SCALES ON THEIR WINGS.

BECAUSE BUTTERFLIES ARE COLD BLOODED, THEY MAY USE THE COLORS TO HELP ABSORB OR REFLECT LIGHT TO KEEP THE BUTTERFLY THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE.

KIND OF THE WAY YOU WEAR BRIGHT CLOTHES IN THE SUM TORE STAY COOL, AND DARKER CLOTHES IN THE WINTER TO STAY WARM.

AND BUTTERFLIES LIKE OTHER ANIMALS USE COLOR TO ATTRACT A MATE.

AND BUTTERFLIES USE COLORS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM PREDATORS.

>> I KNOW HE'S EAR SOMEWHERE.

>> LIKE SOLDIERS WHO USE CAMOUFLAGE TO HIDE FROM THE ENEMY, THE COLORS OF A BUTTERFLY'S WINGS HELP IT BLEND IN TO ITS SURROUNDINGS, AND AVOID BEING EATEN.

OTHER BUTTERFLIES USE THEIR COLORS TO WARN PREDATORS.

MANY OF THE BRIGHTEST BUTTERFLIES ARE ACTUALLY POISONOUS TO BIRDS, OR JUST TASTE NASTY.

BIRDS SEE THE BUTTERFLIES' COLORS AND STAY AWAY.

BUT COLORFUL WINGS CAN'T PROTECT BUTTERFLIES WHEN HUMANS DESTROY THEIR HABITAT.

MORE THAN 20 BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE ENDANGERED, AND MAY SOME DAY GO INSTINCT.

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP BUTTERFLIES.

LEAVE NATURAL HABITATS AS THEY ARE, AND HELP RESTORE WILDLANDS.

YOU CAN EVEN GROW BUTTERFLY FRIENDLY FLANTS YOUR OWN GARDEN TO GIVE THESE FLYING FLOWERS A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

>> AND JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT BUTTERFLIES ARE PAUL CASTROVILLO INSECT CURATOR AT THE ORMA J. SMITH MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, AT THE COLLEGE OF IDAHO.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALSO JOINING US IS STEVE BURNS, DIRECTOR OF ZOO BOISE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> OF COURSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-973-9800 OR EMAIL US AT D4K@IDAHOPTV.ORG.

REMEMBER, WHEN YOU SEND IN A QUESTION, YOU AND YOUR CLASS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN DVDs AND OTHER PRIZES.

LET'S JUMP TO OUR FIRST QUESTION FROM PEGGY HERD'S CLASS, WHICH BUTTERFLY IS THE LARGEST?

>> THAT WOULD BE THE QUEEN ALEXANDRA BIRD WING BUTTERFLY.

THEY'RE ABOUT 11 INCHES, WINGSPAN ABOUT 11 INCHES WIDE.

>> THAT IS A BIG BUTTERFLY.

>> IT IS.

>> HOW ABOUT THE NEXT QUESTION FROM MRS.

HUNT'S FOURTH GRADE CLASS, PAGE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DOES A BUTTERFLY HAVE A BRAIN?

>> BUTTERFLIES HAVE A BRAIN.

IT'S ATTACHED TO A LONG NERVE CORD IN THEIR BODY, BUT THEY HAVE A BRAIN UP NEAR THEIR HEAD, JUST LIKE MOST ANIMALS.

>> WE HAVE SOME VIDEO QUESTIONS, LET'S GO TO OUR FIRST QUESTION FROM TALEY.

>> MY NAME IS TALEY, AND MY QUESTION IS, HOW LONG CAN BUTTERFLIES FLY WITHOUT RESTING?

>> HOW LONG CAN BUTTERFLIES FLY WITHOUT RESTING?

>> THEY CAN -- DEPENDS ON IF THEY'RE BEING CARRIED ON THE WIND.

THE BUTTERFLIES THAT FLY FOR A LONG DISTANCE, USUALLY THAN JUST FLY, THEY GET UP WHERE THE WIND IS AND THE WIND HELPS CARRY THEM.

SOME BUTTERFLIES CAN FLY FOR HOURS AND HOURS ON END, JUST BECAUSE THEY GET WHERE THE WIND CAN MOVE THEM ALONG.

>> FROM EMAIL, FROM CLAIRE IN MRS.

CHILLEDDERS' CLASS, DO MONARCH BUTTERFLIES HIBERNATE?

WE KNOW THEY MIGRATE, BUT DO THEY HIBERNATE?

>> THEY DON'T TECHNICALLY HIBERNATE.

THEY FLY SOUTH, THEY LAND IN GROVES OF TREES, AND THEY REMAIN PRETTY MUCH INACTIVE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER DOWN THERE.

BUT THEY DON'T GO TO SLEEP LIKE A HIBERNATING -- LIKE AN ANIMAL YOU CONSIDER HIBERNATING.

SO THEY JUST REMAIN INACTIVE FOR THE WINTER, AND WAKE UP AND FLY OFF AGAIN.

>> QUESTION FROM MADISON IN MRS.

SCHWEITZER'S CLASS, HOW MANY BUTTERFLIES EXIST -- I SAID IN MY OPEN THERE'S MORE THAN 100 BUTTERFLIES, THERE'S MORE THAN 150 IN IDAHO ALONE.

HOW MANY BUTTERFLIES TOTAL ARE THERE?

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

WE PROBABLY WANT TO LOOK IT UP TO BE SURE, BUT WE WERE TALK ABOUT 10,000 IN THE WORLD.

>> ABOUT A THOUSAND IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE 150 IN IDAHO.

>> WELL, SAY IN IDAHO THERE ARE ABOUT 150 DIFFERENT KINDS.

THEY'RE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND THERE'S A BUTTERFLY COUNT IN IDAHO WHERE OFTEN WE GO OUT AND WE CAN FIND 30 TO 50 OF THEM IN A SINGLE DAY IF WE HIT THE RIGHT DAY AND THE RIGHT PLACES.

>> AND WE HAVE A CALLER ONLINE.

IT'S FROM COEUR D'ALENE.

HOW DO YOU SAY YOUR FIRST NAME?

>> Caller: ISRAEL.

>> HOW LONG IS AN AVERAGE BUTTERFLY'S LIFE?

>> WE HAVE THE BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT AT ZOO BOISE, SOME OF THEM WILL LIVE A FEW DAYS, SOME OF THEM WE'VE SEEN LIVE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

SO I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE SPECIES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT REALLY -- IT'S A PRETTY BROAD RANGE OF HOW LONG THEY LIVE.

>> KAYLA FROM HAIDARIEN MEADOWS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DO BUTTERFLIES DIE IF YOU TOUCH THEIR WINGS?

>> THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE GOTTEN THIS QUESTION IN THE PAST THREE DAYS.

A BUTTERFLY, YOU CAN TOUCH THEIR WINGS AND SOMETIMES THE COLOR WILL RUB OFF AND PEOPLE THINK THAT WILL KILL THEM.

THAT WON'T KILL THEM.

THEY WOULD DIE IF YOU TOUCH YOUR WINGS AND WERE REAL ROUGH, SO YOU MIGHT BREAK THE VEINS AND THEN THEY COULDN'T FLY.

SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW ROUGH YOU ARE WITH THEM, WHETHER THEY WOULD DIE.

BUT MOST BUTTERFLIES ARE FAIRLY TOUGH AND YOU CAN HANDLE THEM CAREFULLY AND THEY WOULD BE FINE.

>> SPEAKING OF WINGS, ADAM FROM MRS.

HUDSON'S CLASS IN COEUR D'ALENE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW DO BUTTERFLIES GROW WINGS?

>> WELL, WHEN THEY'RE -- THEY HAVE THE CELLS INSIDE THEIR BODY EVEN WHEN THEY'RE CATERPILLARS.

WHEN THEY GO INTO THE PUPA, THOSE PARTICULAR CELLS START TO GROW.

THAT IT'S TIME WHEN THOSE CELLS BECOME VERY RAPIDLY GROWING AND THEY FORM WINGS AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

SO THEY ALWAYS SORT OF HAVE THE WINGS, THEY JUST AREN'T GROWING UNTIL THEY GET TO THE PUPA STAGE.

>> QUESTION FRO HAYDEN.

>> HI, MY NAME IS HAYDEN, AND MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO MONARCH BUTTERFLIES SIT ON MILK WEED PLANTS?

>> WHY DO THEY LIKE MILK WEED PLANTS?

>> BUTTERFLIES, A LOT OF TIMES THEY HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A HOST PLANT.

THEY WILL LAY THEIR EGGS ON A HOST PLANT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CATERPILLAR EATS.

SO WHEN THE EGGS HATCH AND THE CATERPILLAR COMES OUT, MILK WEED IS REALLY WHAT THOSE CATERPILLARS LIKE TO EAT.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEIMONE ARCS ON MILK WEED.

IMPORTANT -- IF YOU WANT TO PROTECT BUTTERFLIES, YOU HAVE TO ALSO PROTECT THEIR HOST PLANTS A LOT OF TIMES.

>> JAKE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT IS A BUTTERFLY'S DEFENSE MECHANISM?

TALK TO US ABOUT HOW BUTTERFLIES KEEP SAFE, KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE.

>> ONE THING IS THEIR COLOR ON THEIR WINGS.

THEY CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES BY BLENDING IN WITH THEIR BACKGROUND.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BUTTERFLIES THAT LOOK LIKE LEAVES OR BARK OR DEAD GRASS OR WHATEVER, AND ALSO THEY PROTECT THEMSELVES BY FLYING, JUST GETTING AWAY FROM YOU.

AND SOME BUTTERFLIES ARE POISONOUS, LIKE THE MONARCH, THAT FEEDS ON MILK WEED.

THERE ARE POISONS IN THE MILK WEED PLANT THAT GO INTO THE CATERPILLAR'S BODY AND END UP IN THE ADULT BUTTERFLY'S BODY.

SO A PREDATOR THAT FEEDS ON A MONARCH WILL HAVE A BAD TASTE OR GET SICK, AND THAT POISON PROTECTS THE OTHER MONARCHS THAT WEREN'T FED ON.

>> DEVON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DO BUTTERFLIES HAVE A SKELETON?

>> NOT AN INTERNAL SKELETON LIKE WE HAVE, BUT INSECTS HAVE EXOSKELETONS.

IT'S SORT OF A HARDER SHELL ON THEIR OUTSIDE.

THAT'S THEIR SKELETON.

SO INSECTS HAVE EXOSKELETON, OUTSIDE SKELETONS.

>> JASON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW DO BUTTERFLIES TASTE WITH THEIR FEET, AND HOW WELL DO THEY SEE AND HEAR?

>> THEY DO TASTE WITH THEIR FEET.

THEY HAVE NERVE ENDINGS ON THEIR FEET, SO WHEN THEY WALK ON A PLANT THAT'S WHERE THEY TASTE.

HOW DO THEY SEE AND HEAR?

THEY SEE, IF YOU LOOK AT A BUTTERFLY, YOU'LL NOTICE ON ITS HEAD USUALLY IT HAS TWO BIG EYES, THEY'RE CALLED COMPOUND EYES, WITH MANY LENSES, SO BUTTERFLIES SEE LIKE WE DO WITH EYES ON THEIR FACE.

AND HOW THEY SMELL, THEY USUALLY HAVE SMELL RECEPTORS ON THEIR ANTENNAS.

SO WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A PLANT TO LAY EGGS ON, THEY USUALLY FIND THE PLANT BY SMELL, AND THEY USE THEIR ANTENNAS TO DETERMINE FITS THE RIGHT PLANT OR NOT.

>> WE HAVE OUR NEXT VIDEO QUESTION, WE'RE GOING TO JUMP TO DAKOTA.

DAKOTA'S QUESTION, LET'S SEE WHAT DAKOTA HAS TO SAY.

>> HI, MY NAME IS MARIA, I GO TO GRACE JORDAN ELEMENTARY.

MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO BUTTERFLIES EAT?

>> I'M SORRY, THAT WAS FROM MARIA.

>> THEY'VE GOT THAT LONG TUBE, AND THEY'LL STICK IT DOWN INTO A FLOWER AND THEY'LL SUCK UP NECTAR THAT WAY.

>> OK.

>> THROUGH THAT TUBE.

>> LET'S GO TO TYLER.

TYLER?

>> Caller: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR BUTTERFLIES TO HATCH OUT OF THE COCOON?

>> HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A CATERPILLAR TO GO TO A BUTTERFLY?

OK, WE'LL GET THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.

LIKE A LOT OF THE ANSWERS, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT SPECIES OF BUTTERFLY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

A LOT OF BUTTERFLIES WILL GO, ABCATERPILLAR FOR MAYBE A MONTH OR TWO, AND THEN THEY MAKE THEIR PUPA AND CAN HATCH OUT IN A FEW WEEKS.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO -- THERE ARE ALSO BUTTERFLIES THAT REMAIN AS A PUPA OR CATERPILLAR OVER THE WINTER, SO THAT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

AND THERE ARE EVEN A FEW BUTTERFLIES THAT LIVE IN VERY HIGH ELEVATIONS WHERE THE SUMMER IS VERY SHORT, AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL BE A CATERPILLAR FOR OVER A YEAR, AND THEN MAKE THEIR CHRYSALIS AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE HALF A YEAR WAITING FOR THAT TO HATCH.

>> DO WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THE PROCESS, INSIDE?

>> ALL THE CELLS ARE THERE, THEY JUST DON'T TRIGGER.

IT'S NOT UNTIL THEY GET INTO THAT PUPA THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ANTENNA CELLS TRIGGER AND THE WING SELLS TRIGGER, AND THEY START TO GROW.

AND THAT'S WHEN THEY EMERGE INSIDE.

AND THEY GET BIG ENOUGH, AND IT SPLITS OPEN THE PIEWB EVER PUPA.

>> OLIVIA WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT MONTH OF THE YEAR DO BUTTERFLIES EMERGE FROM THE CHRYSALIS?

IS THERE A TIME FRAME FOR BUTTERFLIES?

>> SAME THING.

DEPENDS ON WHAT SPECIES IT IS.

THERE ARE CERTAIN BUTTERFLIES THAT HATCH IN THE SPRING, THERE'S LITTLE BLUE BUTTERFLIES AND WHITE BUTTERFLIES, ORANGE ON THEIR WINGS CALLED ORANGE TIPS.

AND THINK HATCH OUT OF THEIR CHRYSALIS IN THE EARLY SPRING, AS SOON AS IT WARMS UP.

THERE ARE THOASH FLIES THAT WON'T HATCH OUT UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER, AND THEN THERE ARE SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES THAT HATCH OUT IN THE FALL, AND THESE BUTTERFLIES THAT HATCH OUT IN THE FALL, THE FIRST ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY DO IS CRAWL UNDER A ROCK AND HIBERNATE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER AND WAKE UP IN THE SPRING AND LAY THEIR EGGS.

SO WHEN THEY HATCH, COULD BE ANY TIME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OTHER THAN WINTER, AND IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT KIND OF BUTTERFLY IT WAS.

>> JUST TO ADD TO THAT, WHEN WE HAVE THE BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT AT THE ZOO, THE BUTTERFLIES THAT ARE IN THERE CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER BECAUSE DIFFERENT BUTTERFLIES ARE EMERGING AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

>> WHEN DOES THE BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT OPEN?

>> JUNE 1st.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

LET'S GET THAT QUESTION FROM DAKOTA.

>> MY NAME IS DAKOTA, AND I GO TO JORDAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES THE -- WHAT IS THE MOST COLORFUL BUTTERFLY IN THE WORLD?

>> PROBABLY DEPENDS ON WHAT COLOR YOU LIKE.

IF YOU LIKE BLUE, THERE'S A BLUE MORPHO BUTTERFLY THAT IS JUST IRRIDESCENT BLUE.

>> I HAVE AN EXAMPLE HERE.

>> THE BUTTERFLY I REFERRED TO BEFORE, THE QUEEN ALEXANDRA BIRD WING IS A BRIGHT GREEN AND WHITE BUTTERFLY.

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ARE ORANGE AND BLACK.

SO IT JUST REALLY DEPENDS.

I THINK THERE'S A BUTTERFLY FOR EVERY COLOR THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.

>> LET'S TRY SHONY'S QUESTION.

>> MY NAME IS SHONY, AND I GO TO GRACE JORDAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO BUTTERFLIES FLY?

>> IS THERE A TRICK TO HOW BUTTERFLIES FLY?

OR DO THEY FLY LIKE BIRDS?

>> THERE'S NO TRICK.

WE KNOW THEY HAVE WINGS.

THEY FLAP THEIR WINGS.

I ALSO MENTIONED SOME BUTTERFLIES GET CARRIED ON THE WIND, SO SOMETIMES YOU'LL GO AFTER A BUTTERFLY AND YOU'LL THINK IT'S NOT FLYING VERY FAST, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TAKES OFF.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT CATCHES THE WIND.

THE ONE TRICK ABOUT BUTTERFLIES IS THAT THEIR WINGS, THEY HAVE FOUR WINGS, AND WHEN THEY FLY, THE TWO RIGHT WINGS HOOK TOGETHER, THE TWO LEFT WINGS HOOK TOGETHER.

SO WHEN THEY'RE FLAPPING THEIR FRONT WINGS, IT ALSO FLAPS THE BACK WINGS AT THE SAME TIME.

SO THERE'S A LITTLE TRICK TO THAT, I GUESS.

>> ALLEY WOULD THRIEK KNOW, HOW IS A MODES DIFFERENT FROM A BUTTERFLY?

>> THERE ARE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MAKE MOTHS DIFFERENT FROM BUTTERFLIES.

NONE OF THEM ALWAYS HOLD TRUE.

OFTEN MOTHS FLY AT NIGHT AND BUTTERFLIES FLY BY DAY.

NOT A LITTLE TRUE.

OFTEN BUTTERFLIES ARE BRIGHTLY COLORED AND MOTHS ARE KIND OF DULL COLORED.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE.

THERE'S SOME BEAUTIFUL MOTDZS MOTHS.

ONE OF THE MAIN DIFFERENCES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ANTENNAS OF A BUTTERFLY, ALL BUTTERFLIES HAVE A LITTLE KNOB ON THE END OF THEIR ANTENNAS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE ANTENNAS OF A MOTH THEY HAVE ALL DIFFERENT KINDS.

SOME ARE FEATHERY, SOME LOOK LIKE A LITTLE PIECE OF STRING.

SO THE ANTENNA IS THE BEST GUIDE.

>> I PREFER BUTTERFLIES TO MOTHS, BUT YOU TELL ME YOU LIKE MOTHS BETTER THAN BUTTERFLIES.

WHY?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE SAID THERE ARE ABOUT 10,000 BUTTERFLIES IN THE WORLD.

THERE ARE ABOUT 100,000 MOTHS IN THE WORLD.

SO THERE ARE A LOT MORE MOTHS.

THEY'RE IN ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF HABITATS AND PLACES.

AND ALL DIFFERENT COLORS, DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES.

I JUST -- IT DEPENDS ON THE DAY.

WHEN I'M OUT IN THE DAYTIME I LIKE BUTTERFLIES BETTER.

WHEN I'M OUT AT NIGHT, I START TO TEND TOWARDS MOTHS.

>> DO YOU HAVE MOTHS AS WELL IN THE BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT?

>> NO, WE DON'T.

OCCASIONALLY WE'LL HAVE ONE SPECIES, MAYBE TWO, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY ARE BUTTERFLIES.

>> PROBABLY BECAUSE THE BUTTERFLIES ARE MORE ACTIVE IN THE DAY GENERALLY AND THEIR EXHIBIT IS OPEN DURING THE DAY.

>> EXACTLY.

>> I'M GOING TO JUMP A VIDEO QUESTION.

IF I COULD HAVE THE QUESTION FOR AXEL.

>> HI, I GO TO GRACE JORDAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I WAS WONDERING IF BUTTERFLIES ALWAYS FLY TO MEXICO.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

ARE THERE SPECIFIC BREEDS OF BUTTERFLIES THAT FLY FROM HERE TO MEXICO, OR FROM THE UNITED STATES TO MEXICO?

>> THE MOST POPULAR ONE, MOST WELL KNOWN IS THE MONARCH.

LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES, IT FLIES -- THE ONES ON THE EASTERN UNITED STATES FLY TO MEXICO AND THEY HANG IN TREES FOR THE WINTER THERE.

THE ONES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE UNITED STATES FLY TO CALIFORNIA AND THEY SPEND THE WINTER THERE.

THAT'S THE BIG ONE THAT FLIES TO MEXICO AND FLIES BACK OUT.

OTHER BUTTERFLIES THAT LIVE IN MEXICO OR THAT AREA, AS SUMMER PROGRESSES AND IT GETS WARMER UP HERE, OFTEN THEY WILL MIGRATE FROM MEXICO FARTHER NORTH AND COME INTO THE UNITED STATES.

PROBABLY NOT A LOT FLY BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

I WOULDN'T ANY.

>> WHAT IS A LEPADOPTRA AND HOW DID THEY GET THAT NAME?

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW -- IT'S A LATIN NAME, AND I'M SURE IT HAS A LATIN MEANING.

DO YOU KNOW, PAUL?

>> IN LATIN, THE LEPAD PART MEANS SCALE, AND WE KNOW BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS HAVE SCALES ON THEIR WINGS.

AND TERA MEANS WINGS.

THAT'S WHERE THE SCIENTIFIC NAME COMES FROM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT QUESTION, WE'RE GOING TO -- A VIDEO QUESTION FROM JOSH.

LET'S HEAR WHAT JOSH HAS TO SAY.

>> HI, MY NAME IS JOSH, I GO TO GRACE JORDAN, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

MY QUESTION IS, BESIDES THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY, WHAT OTHER BUTTERFLIES ARE FIND EVER FOUND IN IDAHO?

>> THERE ARE 150 IN IDAHO.

SWALLOW TAILS, THE BLACK AND YELLOW BUTTERFLIES, THE TIGER SWALLOW TAIL.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WHITE BUTTERFLIES LIKE THE CABBAGE WHITE, WHICH IS OFTEN A PEST IN PEOPLE'S GARDENS.

THERE ARE THE PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLIES THAT ARE BLACK AND ORANGE LIKE MONARCHS, BUT THEY'RE SMALLER, AND WE SEE THOSE SOME YEARS WHEN THEY HAVE A BIG OUTBREAK THAT FLIES UP FROM THE SOUTH.

THERE ARE LITTLE BLUE BUTTERFLIES, A WHOLE CLASS OF BLUE BUTTERFLIES AND ORANGE BUTTERFLIES CALLED COPPERS.

150 DIFFERENT KINDS.

>> IS THERE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR GARDEN?

IS IN SOMETHING YOU SHOULD PLANT?

>> PLANT FLOWERS.

FLOWERS IS A BIG THING.

AGAIN, DIFFERENT BUTTERFLIES USE DIFFERENT FLOWERS.

IT DEPENDS.

>> OK.

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE YOU DON'T DO TO HELP PROTECT BUTTERFLY HABITAT?

>> A LOT OF THE BUTTERFLIES NEED WILD HABITAT.

SO IT'S NOT USUALLY IN OUR POWER TO NOT MOW DOWN FIELDS OF MILK WEED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

KEEPING WILD HABITAT AROUND IS THE THINGS THAT WILL KEEP BUTTERFLIES HERE.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE'RE DEVELOPING THE LAND.

IF WE CAN DO IT AND MAKE THE SMALLEST IMPACT ON THE WILDERNESS OR WILD NATIVE PLANTS, THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE BUTTERFLIES.

>> WE HAVE AN EMAIL QUESTION, YOU SORT OF TOUCHED ON IT EARL YESH, WHY DOES THE COLOR COME OFF WHEN YOU TOUCH THEIR WINGS?

>> THE BUTTERFLY'S -- THE COLOR ON THE BUTTERFLY'S WINGS IS MADE BY LITTLE TINY SCALES ON THEIR WINGS.

THEY'RE REAL SIMILAR TO SHINGLES ON A ROOF.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT A ROOF AND YOU SEE ALL THESE LITTLE PANELS ON THERE, THAT'S JUST WHAT THE SCALES ARE LIKE ON A BUTTERFLY'S WING.

BUT THEY'RE ATTACHED FAIRLY LOOSELY, SO THAT IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL AND YOU TOUCH THEM, THEY CAN STICK TO THE OIL ON YOUR FINGERS AND BE PULLED OFF THE WING IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL.

>> AND KATELYN ADAMS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW -- KNOW AT ADAMS ELEMENTARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DO BUTTERFLIES LAY THEIR EGG AND DIE?

>> DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF BUTTERFLY.

MOST BUTTERFLIES WILL LIVE AS ADULTS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TO A COUPLE MONTHS.

AND THEY'LL LAY EGGS THROUGHOUT THAT WHOLE PERIOD.

AND THEN THEY TEND TO DIE AFTER THAT, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY LAID THEIR EGG AND THEY'RE GOING TO DIE, IT'S JUST A NATURAL LIFE CYCLE ONCE THEY'VE LAID THEIR EGGS IT'S TIME FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO PROGRESS.

SO THE BUTTERFLY USUALLY DOESN'T LAST LONGER THAN THAT.

>> NATURALLY FROM DALTON ELEMENTARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY DO WE NEED BUTTERFLIES?

>> BUTTERFLIES SERVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.

ONE, THEY'RE GREAT POLLINATORS, SO A LOT OF PLANTS ARE POLLINATED BECAUSE THE BUTTERFLIES WILL FEED ON THE FLOWER AND THEN GO TO THE NEXT FLOWER AND END UP POLLINATING IT.

SECONDLY, THEY'RE ALSO AN IMPORTANT FOOD SOURCE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WILL EAT BUTTERFLIES.

BIRDS WILL EAT THEM, MAMMALS WILL EAT BUTTERFLIES, THEY'LL EAT THE CATERPILLARS.

SO THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT FOOD SOURCE FOR OTHER ANIMALS AS WELL.

>> SPENCER AT VALLEYVIEW WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW DO BUTTERFLIES SEE?

DO THEY USE A DIFFERENT SPECTRUM?

DO THEY SEE THE WAY HUMANS SEE?

OR DO THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE -- >> 8 EVER AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THEY SEE WITH EYES LIKE MOST OTHER ANIMALS, BUT IT IS TRUE THAT THEY DO SEE A DIFFERENT SPECTRUM THAN WE DO.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS THEY -- MOST OF THEM SEE TRAWL VIOLET LIGHT, WHICH WE CAN'T.

SO THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT SOME BUTTERFLIES THAT MIGHT LOOK JUST LIKE YELLOW AND BLACK TO US, UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, THEY HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT PATTERN ON THEIR WINGS AND THAT'S WHAT THE OTHER BUTTERFLIES ARE SEEING WHEN THEY SEE THAT BUTTERFLY.

>> WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HOW -- WHAT ATTRACTS A MALE BUTTERFLY TO A FEMALE EXPWOIG VICE VERSA.

WHAT ARE THE -- WHAT MAKES A BUTTERFLY LOOK MORE INTERESTING TO ANOTHER BUTTERFLY?

>> IT'S MOSTLY COLOR PATTERNS THAT BUTTERFLIES ARE ATTRACTED TO.

MOTHS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE SCENT OF THEIR MATE.

BUTTERFLIES, THEY FLY DURING THE DAY, MOST BUTTERFLIES ARE ATTRACTED TO THE COLOR PATTERN, AND THAT'S HOW THEY FIND EACH OTHER.

>> HOW DID YOU GET STARTED STUDYING BUTTERFLIES?

>> I JUST WAS A KID IN GRADE SCHOOL, AND THOUGHT BUTTERFLIES WERE NEAT, AND I STARTED READ BALL GAME THEM, AND COLLECTING THEM AND STUDYING THEM, AND HERE IT IS 50 YEARS LATER AND I STILL THINK THEY'RE NEAT.

I NEVER LOST MY INTEREST.

>> IF A STUDENT WANTS TO LEARN, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO IN SCHOOL?

>> STAY IN SCHOOL AND HOPEFULLY GO TO COLLEGE, AND STUDY BIOLOGY, BUT THEN YOU CAN MAJOR IN ENTOMOLOGY AND OTHER STUDIES, INSECTS, AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO SPECIALIZE.

SO TAKE SCIENCE, TAKE MATH, AND STAY IN THERE.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO LOOK IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO FIND A COLLEGE THAT MAJOR AND HAD BUTTERFLIES SPECIFICALLY, YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE TO RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT THE REALLY GOOD SCHOOL FOR ENTOMOLOGY.

>> BUT END MOL 80 IS A LITTLE -- IS THE -- ETYMOLOGY -- >> THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

>> SO IS THERE A PARTICULAR CLASS YOU LIKED THAT GOT YOU DOWN THE ROAD?

>> I WAS TAKING BIOLOGY IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND THAT'S WHAT GOT ME STARTED.

BUT DISCRIMINATED GO TO COLLEGE AND I TOOK COURSES OF ENTOMOLOGY, BUT THAT'S GOOD, BUT THERE'S SO MANY GOOD BOOKS OUT ON BUTTERFLIES AND INSECTS NOW, AND THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, YOU CAN LEARN A LOT A OF THINGS WITH THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

THERE ARE MUSEUMS YOU CAN GO TO, IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO FIND INFORMATION NOW THAN YOU COULD WHEN I WAS A KID.

SO IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN BUTTERFLIES SHOULD HAVE AN EASY TIME GETTING INTO IT NOW.

>> WE HAVE JUST A SHORT BIT OF TIME, WHAT WILL WE SEE AT YOUR MUSEUM?

>> AT THE MUSEUM AT THE COLLEGE OF IDAHO IT HAS THE SECOND LARGEST INSECT COLLECTION IN THE STATE.

AND A BIG BUTTERFLY SECTION THAT ME AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR DECADES.

THAT'S THE INSECT PART OF IT.

THAT MUSEUM HAS ALL KINDS OF NATURAL HISTORY THINGS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL THINGS, SO IT'S WORTH STOPPING IN AND TAKING A LOOK.

>> AND THE ZOO, WHEN DOES THE BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT START AT THE BOISE ZOO?

>> IT RUNS FROM JUNE 1st THROUGH LABOR DAY, AND ALL THE BUTTERFLIES THAT ARE THERE FROM COSTA RICA, THERE ARE SOME FOUND IN COSTA RICA AND IN IDAHO, BUT MOST OF THEM AREN'T FOUND IN IDAHO.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SEEING REALLY BRIGHT BLUE BUTTERFLIES OR OWL BUTTERFLIES, THINGS YOU WOULDN'T SEE IF YOU WERE OUT WANDERING AROUND IDAHO, COME DOWN TO THE ZOO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.

OF COURSE WE'VE GOT LOTS MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU ON OUR WEBSITE, GO TO IDAHOPTV.ORG CLICK ON THE "D4K" TAB.

WE'VE GOT LINKS AND FACTS AND LOTS OF READING MATERIAL.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR WEB-ONLY PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN SEE THERE, IT'S ALL AVAILABLE ON THE "D4K" WEBSITE.

WE'VE ALSO GOT -- WE WANT TO SAY WHO OUR WINNER IS, LAST MONTH'S WINNER WAS CARLY IN MR.

HANSEN'S FOURTH GRADE CLASS.

SO REMEMBER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR -- CONGRATULATIONS TO CARLY AND THANK YOU FOR SUMMITING QUESTIONS.

AND CHECK OUT MY BLOG.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "D4K."

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