

Photo: J. J. Ward. 



COILED PROBOSCIS OF A BUTTERFLY 



It is a paired structure, but only one-half of the tube is shown. It is used for sucking up nectar 

 from flowers, the suction being due to a muscular pump inside the insect's head. In some of the 

 Hawk Moths the proboscis may be 10 inches long. Rising from near the base of the proboscis 

 there are two palps covered with sensitive hairs, as the photograph shows. The caterpillar or 

 larva of the butterfly has biting mouth-parts in great contrast to the suctorial parts of the adult. 



