In the last issue we looked at monarch butterflies and their amazing migrations. Today we will look at a few other butterfly varieties.
The bright colors and sharp designs of a butterfly are formed by rows of thousands of tiny, dustlike scales that cover its two pairs of wings, like shingles on a roof. These scales not only add beauty but cover the framework of veins that give strength to the wings. The scales also absorb warmth for the butterfly, which cannot fly until its body is warmed to about 80 degrees.
The male monarch has bright orange on its wings, spreading out from its coal-black body. Each wing has a matching black border, speckled with white at the outer edges. The female is much lighter in color.
Another pretty butterfly is the great spangled fritillary. It has a light-orange body with the same light-orange on its wings, which also have dark brown markings in various shapes. At the outer edges of the wings a narrow strip looks like a hand-sewn hem.
The American copper has copper and silvery-gray wings, with large and small black patches. Then there is the Florida blue, an outstanding beauty of deep purplish blue, without the extra trimmings so many others have. The American painted lady, on the other hand, is such a contrast with a heavily patterned wingspread of brown overlaid with large circles of bluish-brown. Each circle is enclosed by a light inside ring and a dark outer one. The edges of its wings are bordered with ribbons of blue, white, pink and dark brown. The upper section of each wing looks like an artist with a fine paint brush has traced narrow and broad lines in scattered directions.
A more unusual one is named the 88 butterfly because of two pairs of large marks on its light-brown wings which look like big number 8s. Around these are deep brown circles, and across the center of the back is a brilliant display of bright red.
It is no wonder that craftsmen copy the vivid color combinations and designs of butterflies. As we admire the “beauties of nature” around us, let us remember that we are actually seeing the Creator’s handiwork. A verse from the Bible says, “He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:1717And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17)).
It is God our Creator’s voice of love and authority that we should believe. He is the source of all truth. Let each of us remember Him both in our youth and into old age as well, not only as the Creator of everything, but more importantly as the One who sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of all who will believe on Him.
ML-11/25/2001