The zebra longwing flying in for a sip from the penta flower.

The butterfly’s tongue, or proboscis, has two parts that have a groove on the inner side. When a butterfly first emerges, you can see the proboscis in two parts, as it uncoils and coils it during the early stages of emerging from its chrysalis. When it is done with that motion the two parts are fused into one for drinking.

Did you know there are muscles, nerves and air tubes the length of the proboscis? When blood is forced into the proboscis it extends and the muscles help the butterfly move it when feeding. Tiny sensory pegs on the outside of the proboscis, one near the tip, both find and taste the nectar. The zebra longwing is a special species as it collects pollen, protein, from flowers as well with its proboscis.