Backyard Butterflies and Moths

Butterflies and moths are among the world's improbable creatures. Something a young child would invent. Their flight appears unsteady, erratic, and aimless. Yet they seem to land with precision at an intended spot. Actually, their flight is carefully controlled so that predators cannot predict it. They are also excellent navigators. Some butterflies can fly as fast as 12 mph, while some moths can reach 25 mph. There are so far discovered about 17,500 species of butterflies and about 160,000 species of moths. The size range of butterflies and moths is almost the same from about 1/8 inch to about 12 inches. They sport what seems like an endless variety of colors and designs some even including fake eyes to fool predators.