How Do Butterflies Survive the Winter? A Full Breakdown of Overwintering Methods

Butterflies are a kind of insect and like to flutter among flowers. They have a pair of large wings, brightly colored with all kinds of markings, and look very beautiful. So, how do butterflies survive the winter?

1. How do butterflies survive the winter?

Butterflies differ in species and form, and their ways of overwintering differ. Some butterflies overwinter as eggs, such as the Lycaenidae and the Theclinae, which lay their eggs at the base of dormant buds. Some butterflies overwinter as larvae, stopping feeding in winter and burrowing directly into the soil. Some butterflies overwinter as pupae, such as swallowtails, which can endure severe cold once they have pupated. Some butterflies overwinter as adults, tucking in their wings and hiding in sheltered spots, or flying south to spend the winter.

2. Are butterflies beneficial insects or pests?

Butterflies are pests during the larval stage, because they feed on plant leaves and cause considerable damage to crops; during the adult stage they are beneficial insects, helping to pollinate flowers, maintain ecological balance and beautify nature.

Of course, some species of butterflies are pests, such as the cabbage white, which has a fondness for cruciferous plants, especially favoring thick-leaved cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, radish and so on. When cruciferous plants are scarce, it can feed on other host plants, such as those of the Asteraceae, Capparaceae, Tropaeolaceae, Liliaceae, Boraginaceae and Oleaceae.

3. What is the largest butterfly in the world?

The largest butterfly in the world is the Queen Alexandra's birdwing, native to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea in the southwestern Pacific, with the largest reaching 360 mm from left wing to right wing. It is a butterfly of the genus Ornithoptera in the family Papilionidae; its larvae feed on Aristolochia vines, initially eating tender leaves and eating the vines before pupating, while the adults feed on the flowers of Hibiscus and others.