Moths and butterflies have been flying around the planet for over 130 million years. Today, an estimated 28,000 species inhabit the globe. We follow their amazing cycle of life – from egg to caterpillar, to chrysalis, and on to the miraculous emergence of a beautiful winged creature.
Moths, butterflies and caterpillars seem barely more than little packets of protein – snacks on the wing for birds, tasty bites for reptiles and small mammals. But they have evolved a fascinating range of disguises and tactics to trick their predators.
In South America, a butterfly has struck a deal with local ants. The ants are 'baby-sitting' the butterfly's larvae; in return, the larvae are feeding the ants with a special secretion.
Scientists are beginning to understand how butterflies and moths see, how they avoid their predators, and why their flight technique is so different from that of birds.
The Painted Lady has dethroned the Monarch as the longest migrational traveller in the butterfly realm; it covers 15,000 kilometres on a roundtrip from Africa to the Artic Circle and back.
This documentary explores the world of butterflies as never before, unlocking their secrets, revealing their amazing survival techniques and presenting surprising facts about nature’s little superheroes.