VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

ABOUT THE SOUND PICTURE

With mouth wide open, vibrating air coming up the throat from the vocal chords leaving the open mouth and spreading in all directions. Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50+ best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years and now am creating this science website.   My scream was not staged. The picture was to be of two adult cats, which I was holding. A microsecond before the camera snapped, the two cats dug their claws into my skin as they prepared to leap out of my arms. A picture like this is great for making inferences. Kids could make "guesses" as to why I am screaming. They would be drawing on facts from the photo, such as I look like I am in pain or maybe I am just pretending.

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Home » The World’s Smallest Butterfly

The World’s Smallest Butterfly

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butterfly-western-pygmy-blueHow Big is the World’s Smallest Butterfly?

First, let me name this tiny insect. The Western Pygmy Blue is the smallest butterfly.
Now about the Western Pygmy Blue’s size. When spread out, its wingspan is about 15mm to 19mm.
Just how big is this?

Discover for Yourself

Use a metric ruler to draw two lines, one should be 15 mm line long and the other 19 mm.

These are very short lines and it is hard to imagine a butterfly being that small, but the Western Pygmy Blue is.

Physical Characteristics of the Western Pygmy Blue 

As you can see in the photo, the wings of the butterfly are multicolored. But basically its dorsal wings are golden brown with blue close to its body. Some of them seem to have more blue than the one shown. But then, often there are some changes in their color depending on the angle of the light. Their coloring is due to tiny overlapping scales on their wings.

This tiny, beautiful butterfly can be found throughout the southern United States usually close to the coastal areas.

The Western Pygmy Blue can be seen all year-long, but is most often seen in early July through September during the warm weather season.

CREDIT:

While  researching butterfly projects for his school’s bug club, Elliot found the information on this page very helpful. Elliot also found the following butterfly guide and suggested that I share the link with others. I agree with Elliot, the information on this guide is great.

https://www.playgroundequipment.com/butterflies-in-your-playground/

A big thanks to Elliot.

CREDIT:

Angela Thomas finds this page on butterflies helpful. She suggested that I add the following resource.

https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/how-to-build-backyard-butterfly-garden/

Thanks Angela,

Janice