Which family, the brush footed butterflies, has reduced forelegs and forelegs bearing brush-like hairs?

Which family, the brush footed butterflies, has reduced forelegs and forelegs bearing brush-like hairs?

• A. Papilionidae
• B. Hesperiidae
• C. Nymphalidae
• D. Pieridae

Answer: (C)

The trait being tested is the forelegs themselves. In this family, the front pair of legs is reduced in size and often covered with dense, brush-like hairs, so they’re not used for walking. This gives the impression that the butterfly has only four legs for locomotion, which is why these butterflies are called brush-footed. The brush-like forelegs are a distinctive feature of this group, setting them apart from other families whose forelegs are fully developed and used for grasping or walking.

The trait being tested is the forelegs themselves. In this family, the front pair of legs is reduced in size and often covered with dense, brush-like hairs, so they’re not used for walking. This gives the impression that the butterfly has only four legs for locomotion, which is why these butterflies are called brush-footed. The brush-like forelegs are a distinctive feature of this group, setting them apart from other families whose forelegs are fully developed and used for grasping or walking.