Updated 12 March 2004, 10.31

			Fact File
	Butterflies
		Butterflies can see red, green, and yellow
		There are about 24,000 species of butterflies
		Many butterflies taste with their feet
		Butterflies and insects have skeletons on the outside, called the exoskeleton

The glowing butterfly has not been made so that it can find its way in the dark.

As the Bicyclus anynana butterfly develops, it will help researchers understand what happens to its genes to change the colour patterns on its wings.

The changes that happen could be down to environmental factors, they said.

This particular type of butterfly has specific shapes on its wing tips which look like eyes.

Researchers think they are used to fool birds because they do not know where the butterfly's real head is.

This could give the butterfly more chance of survival, because birds try to attack their heads first.

The research was published in a scientific journal.

Watch/Listen

Hear story

More Info

In pix: Creepy crawlies

What are GM foods?

Talk about animals

Past Stories
	US state bans glow-in-dark fish
	Scientists create glow-in-the-dark fish!
	Why cowpats could be less stinky
	Sneeze-free grass on the way
	Cloned cat looks different from mum