Have you ever wondered how do butterflies know if the plant they have landed on is toxic or not? Well, they use their feet to taste.
Yes, seriously, butterflies’ taste receptors are located on their legs. They are in fact similar to the taste buds we have in our mouths, except theirs are 200 times stronger (according to Encyclopedia Britannica).
Butterflies use these receptors primarily to test if potential egg-laying sites contain toxins or other harmful detriments.
Butterflies’ babies, caterpillars, eat constantly. They feed on the leaves that are closest to them so it’s important for butterflies to choose the right plants for laying eggs.
