Butterflies and Moths

20

Smell detectors

Butterflies need huge

antennae to detect

flowers and to find

other butterflies. Each

antenna has thousands

of tiny holes that

absorb smells.

The antennae

are divided

into segments.

Smelling and sipping

They may not have a nose like we do, but butterflies

and moths have an amazing sense of smell. They use

their antennae to detect scents—sometimes as far as

2 miles (3 km) away. Most butterflies and moths have

a long tongue, called a proboscis, that they use for

sipping nectar and other liquids. Look for them

fluttering around flowers as they feed.

Long straws

A butterfly’s tongue is

just like a straw. But

it has to uncoil it in

order to get to the

sweet liquids that

lie at the bottom

of flowers.

A butterfly keeps

its proboscis rolled

up like a spring until

it is ready to feed.

US_020-021_Smelling_and_sipping.indd 20 11/10/17 3:34 pm