The butterfly’s head

A butterfly has large eyes, which actually consist of several thousand tiny individual eyes. It can see forwards, backwards and to the sides – which is why it is so hard to catch. The proboscis is a drinking straw used to suck up liquid food from flowers, among other things.

When not in use, it is rolled up into a small coil and tucked away behind a pair of hairy appendages (palps). The two long antennae (feelers) and the palps are first and foremost the seat of the butterfly’s sense of smell.