naure.com
AnimalsSurprise 4/5Difficulty 3/5Reviewed on September 17, 2026

Butterflies possess chemoreceptors on their feet, allowing them to taste plants and determine if they are suitable for laying eggs.

Why it is true

When landing on a leaf, butterflies drum their feet to release the plant's juices. The receptors on their feet immediately detect if the plant is the correct host for their caterpillars, ensuring the offspring's survival.

Source: National Geographic

Would you rather be asked first?

This is the reading side of the site, so the answer is in the sentence above — that is the whole point of it. Test yourself works the other way round: the question comes on its own, and the fact and the explanation only appear once you have answered.

Test yourself →10-question challenge

Related facts

More in Animals

See all →