Butterflies and Moths

Bright lights, big risk

Look for nighttime moths fluttering

around windows and streetlights. Moths

are attracted to light, but become

a target for bats that swoop around

the bulb, snapping up an easy meal.

Warning: Don’t

touch light bulbs—

they can get

very hot.

Spotty eyes

When they are alive, butterflies

and moths often have a dark

pattern of little spots, called

pseudopupils (sud-o-pupils),

on their eyes. No one knows

exactly why they are there.

However, when the insect

dies, the pseudopupils fade.

Pseudopupil Invisible lines

The light from the Sun that comes

after purple on the rainbow is called

ultraviolet light. We cannot see this

light, but butterflies and moths can.

Some flowers, such as this lesser

celandine, have ultraviolet stripes

on their petals that insects use to

guide them to the tasty nectar.

Normal light UV light

US_018-019_Eyes_and_seeing.indd 19 02/11/17 4:21 pm