Butterfly, Caterpillar and Moth Line Art & Full Color Illustration

Artist's notes:

Butterflies are another fabulous subject to draw. They're one of my favorite insects, for obvious reasons. Apart from moths, which are usually less colorful and smaller (save for the mammoth moths like the Atlas or Cycropia) butterflies have few other animals that can compare to their anatomy. Countless times I've watched butterflies sail by the wind and wondered how, with those massive wings that seem to be a the mercy of the slightest breeze, they are able to land on a flower or make any kind of headway in order to get where they're going. And perhaps ironically, it is one of these butterflies - the Monarch - that takes part in one of the greatest migrations in the world, from the northern regions of Canada and the US down southwards into their winter homes in Mexico. I often will think of this while drawing any small insect and it helps to inspire me to be true to these humble little invertebrates. I try and add a new butterfly or insect every few weeks. If you'd like to make a suggestion please send me an email letting me know which species you have in mind.

Information about Butterflies:

Butterflies, along with moths, are invertebrates of the order Lepidoptera. They are mostly diurnal (active during the daylight hours.) These insects are holometabolous - otherwise known as complete metamorphism. This means the insect develops in four distinct life stages, usually beginning as an embryo or egg, then becoming a larva, a pupa the finally morphing into an adult. Generally all butterflies go through a cocoon or chrysalis stage, which they enter as a caterpillar and emerge transformed as a fully formed butterfly (this adult stage is also called an imago.) The wings of the butterfly is actually made up of very small scales. The coloration of butterfly wings is created by minute scales. The scales are given their coloration by means of pigmentation with melanins - which are derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine. These scales hold a little loosely to the butterfly's wing. They can come off easily, and if too many are lost the butterfly cannot fly. So it is recommended you don't touch or handle butterflies as you may damage these minute scales, and the oils on your skins can also cause damage.

Information about Moths:

Moths are flying insects that are closely related to butterflies, which are both of the order Lepidoptera. There are many species of moths, and its estimated there are between 150,000 and 250,000 different moths. Unlike butterflies, moths are mostly nocturnal but there are some that are active during the day. Also like butterflies, one of the stages of a moths life is that of caterpillars who spin cocoons. When the moth emerges from the cocoon, after some time the wings will stiffen and it will be ready to fly. Not all moths spin cocoons, and a few burrow underground instead. Many moths are considered pests and their impact on crops cost millions of dollars each year. Many nocturnal animals like owls and bats feed on moths, and several other animals will prey on the larvae of the moth such as bears, rodents, and even some bears. Some moths are farmed, and the ability of caterpillars (called silkworms) to spin silk is a multi-million dollar industry.

Butterfly & Moth T-Shirts