Cara Sim, 9
Have you ever stopped to watch a butterfly flutter by? With their colourful wings and gentle flight, butterflies are one of the most beautiful insects in nature. But did you know that every butterfly has an amazing life story?
A butterfly begins its life as a tiny egg, usually laid on the leaf of a plant. After a few days, a caterpillar (or larva) hatches out.
The caterpillar’s main job is to eat – and it eats a lot! It munches on leaves and grows bigger and bigger. When it’s ready, the caterpillar forms a shell around itself called a chrysalis or pupa.
Inside, something magical happens – the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly!
Kyra Grace Chang Kai Er, 11
Malaysia is home to many beautiful butterflies. Our national butterfly, Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing, has striking green and black wings. If you visit a garden or park, you might spot butterflies dancing among flowers.
Do you know that you can attract butterflies to your garden too? Just plant colourful flowers like lantanas, zinnias or ixoras.
Butterflies are drawn to bright colours and sweet nectar. Remember not to catch them – simply enjoy watching them flutter around.
Damien Dishen, 5
Recently Starchild asked readers to send in letters on the topic, Butterflies. Here’s what they had to say.
“Butterflies are beautiful insects with colourful wings which make them a favourite sight in gardens and parks. Butterflies drink through a long tube called a proboscis, which works like straws for them.
“They use it to suck nectar from flowers. Another fantastic fact is that butterflies cannot fly when it feels cold. They are cold-blooded insects, so they need the warmth of the sun to heat up their bodies. Do you also know that butterflies can see colours that humans can’t? Yes!
“Their eyes are specially designed to detect ultraviolet light, which helps them find flowers and other butterflies easily. Butterflies are wonders of nature,” says Umesh Jithan, 11.
Umesh Jithan, 11
“I saw a butterfly! It was flying near the flowers. It was so pretty and colourful,” says Anya Dishen, three.
Anya Dishen, 3
Older sibling Damien Dishen, five, writes: “Butterflies are pretty. They fly around the flowers. I saw a yellow one in the park. It was sucking nectar from a pink flower. I tried to follow it, but it flew too fast!”
Nine-year-old Cara Sim likes butterflies because they are colourful and peaceful.
“I learned that they start as caterpillars before changing into butterflies. I think that’s amazing because it shows how animals can transform. I planted flowers like zinnias to attract butterflies, and sometimes they land on my hand. It feels so light and gentle!”
ITEM: Imagine you have a big, strong tree in your backyard. What kind of treehouse would you build? Would it have a slide, a rope ladder, or even a secret door?
Draw your dream treehouse and show us what fun things you’d put inside!
Email your contributions to lifestyle@thestar.com.my by Nov 4. Please put “STARCHILD: My treehouse” in the subject line of your email.
Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.
