Butterfly Discovery

Buck Keagy submitted his sigh-n-tific study after it has been refused by every science publication including the National Enquirer.  It does not reflect the opinion of Master Naturalists, or anyone else for that matter.

New Butterfly Discovery

Researchers on two small islands off the east coast of Madagascar, have recently discovered some very unusual behaviors about the butterfly species “Divergent Bi-wings” (Buckmeister keagyii)

What Buck Thinks He Saw

For many years, scientists have been unable to capture any male specimens for this study. Recently they focused a surveillance camera on an active nest, and discovered some amazing information!

First – the Bi-wings always lay exactly three fairly large eggs in a triangular shaped nest made from chewed bark of the Sugar Palm, mixed with saliva, and attached to a rock outcropping.  They discovered that all the eggs have a double yoke!  With one yoke being male, and the other being female. The startling fact they discovered, that while still under incubation, and the male yoke fertilizes the female yoke – and is then forthwith absorbed by the female yoke prior to hatching.  Immediately after hatching, the larval caterpillar first consumes the eggshell – then devours the nest material!  There are five instars prior to the pupal stage.

But the most amazing activity the researchers discovered was how the mother Bi-wing maintained a constant temperature on the eggs! (Note: the egg shells are heavily corrugated with rows of deep wrinkles so as to provide much more surface area than a similar-sized smooth egg).  Seems the Divergent Bi-wings have two clear wings on the right side of their thorax, and two sooty-black wings on the left side.  The surveillance camera disclosed that depending on the sunlight hitting the nest, the mother would cover the eggs with the clear wings (greenhouse effect), or the black wings (to absorb maximum heat).  To keep the eggs warm at night, the mother would rapidly vibrate a heavily ridged “Brood Plate” attached to her lower abdomen, against the eggshells – using friction to maintain proper egg temperature!  What is even more remarkable, as over time the brood plate surface would become worn smooth from use – it is then re-sharpened by a special “tooth” on the left rear leg!

Forget that you read this here.  We invite any members to submit any similar studies along with a certified drug test.
Buck Keagy is one of our Master Naturalists.  No... really!