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.
A zebra longwing, the Florida state butterfly, stopped by for some sweet nectar from a red penta flower. I was so excited to photograph this beauty. This flower is among the most visited nectar plant in our garden. The U.S. Forest Service stated that they are intelligent insects and can remember where they are getting their food sources, therefore returning to the same plant they fed on before.
This species of butterfly can live up to several months, as they feed on both the nectar and pollen of flowers. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the zebra longwing’s saliva enables them to dissolve the pollen taken in from the flowers for its nutrients, which are rich in proteins. Because of these proteins it allows the butterfly to produce eggs for many months. Their lifespan can last as long as five or six months, while other species only live for a few weeks.
Once the zebra longwing gathers pollen, which collects in globs along the outside of the proboscis, it will find a quiet leaf that offers some shelter for an hour, or more, as it” secretes digestive enzymes,” which is done through the tip of the proboscis, according to author Thomas C. Emmel of “Florida’s Fabulous Butterflies.” Those enzymes break down the pollen grain protein into amino acids, which then go through its proboscis. Emmel stated that the amino acids are then used to produce sperm, or eggs, in addition to helping with body maintenance.
