Butterfly - Life Cycle Summary

Written by T.L. McMullen


INTRODUCTION

Butterflies are beautiful insects of nature and often admired for their vibrant colors. According to The American Heritage Dictionary, they belong torepparttar biological order of Lepidoptera, and have distinct characteristics: slender bodies, knobbed antennae, and four wings (Dictionary.com). The Lepidoptera classification order is derived from Greek origin meaning “scales” and “wings” (Jeananda Col).

Butterflies are members ofrepparttar 145185 insect family and their traits include 3 pairs of legs, a segmented body, and two pairs of wings. Although they are members ofrepparttar 145186 insect family, and carryrepparttar 145187 same characteristics of other insects, butterflies generally appeal to people where most insects do not (Earthlife.net).

Why are butterflies so unique? One distinguishing reason can be found by exploring a butterfly’s life cycle. Butterflies go throughrepparttar 145188 process of metamorphosis: a distinct transformation from an egg to a butterfly.

LIFE STAGES OF A BUTTERFLY

As a result of metamorphosis, butterflies go through a series of four, very distinct, life-type changes.

The four stages include: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

•Egg Stage -repparttar 145189 beginning of life for a butterfly. The egg is a product of adult reproduction and is deposited on tree leaves by a sticky hormonal substance fromrepparttar 145190 adult. •Larva Stage - typical in appearance to a caterpillar. The majority ofrepparttar 145191 larva’s lifespan is spent eating andrepparttar 145192 first meal is usually it’s own eggshell. As a result of continuous consumption,repparttar 145193 butterfly will increase several thousand times in size. It will spin a silky pad before progressing torepparttar 145194 next phase. It is not yet mature and it is unable to reproduce at this point.

How to Plant a Tree

Written by http://www.home-and-garden-decor.net


Selectingrepparttar right tree forrepparttar 145184 right place is a good first step in any landscape design, but proper planting also is important for getting your tree off to a good start. Trees are like all living creatures. They require more attention inrepparttar 145185 beginning to promote a long, healthy life.

Carefully chooserepparttar 145186 planting site. Trees are difficult to move once they are established. Check with local authorities for regulations on placement of trees. Some communities have ordinances restricting placement of trees within a specified distance of a street, sidewalk, streetlight, or other utilities. BEFORE DIGGING, make sure that all underground utilities are clearly marked. You wouldn’t want to cut offrepparttar 145187 electric power to your community or risk injury.

Carefully followrepparttar 145188 planting instructions that come with your tree. If specific instructions are not available, follow these tips:

Dig a hole about twicerepparttar 145189 size ofrepparttar 145190 tree’s root ball, or about one foot wider thanrepparttar 145191 root system. The hole should be slightly shallower thanrepparttar 145192 root ball. Ifrepparttar 145193 soil is especially heavy or wet, consider plantingrepparttar 145194 tree slightly higher. Remove all materials fromrepparttar 145195 root mass. This includes wires, string, burlap, and biodegradable containers. Neglecting this will hinder proper root growth. Gently placerepparttar 145196 tree inrepparttar 145197 center ofrepparttar 145198 hole and position it to grow straight. Ifrepparttar 145199 tree has a prettier side, place it inrepparttar 145200 direction most frequently viewed. If planting a bare root tree, carefully spreadrepparttar 145201 roots. Crumblerepparttar 145202 soil removed fromrepparttar 145203 hole and coverrepparttar 145204 roots with it. As you add soil to fill in aroundrepparttar 145205 tree, lightly tamprepparttar 145206 soil to collapse air pockets, or add water to help settlerepparttar 145207 soil. Air pockets aroundrepparttar 145208 roots can be devastating to a newly planted tree. Add about four inches of mulch--wood chips, shredded bark, or grass clippings--aroundrepparttar 145209 base ofrepparttar 145210 tree, extending out torepparttar 145211 tips ofrepparttar 145212 outermost branches. A 3-foot diameter circle of mulch is common. Mulching will retain moisture, reduce weeds, maintain a more even soil temperature, and eliminate mowing next torepparttar 145213 delicate bark. Be sure to pullrepparttar 145214 mulch away fromrepparttar 145215 tree trunk because decomposing mulch can cause rot problems. Finally, giverepparttar 145216 tree a thorough watering. Ifrepparttar 145217 root ball is extremely dry, allow water to trickle intorepparttar 145218 soil by placingrepparttar 145219 hose atrepparttar 145220 trunk ofrepparttar 145221 tree. Young trees need protection against rodents, frost cracks, sunscald, lawnmowers, and weed whackers. Plastic guards are an inexpensive and easy control method. Light colored tree wraps can be used to protectrepparttar 145222 trunk from sunscald. Usually, staking trees is not necessary unless you live in an area with high winds.

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