Science says butterflies taste with their feet, here’s why evolution put chemical sensors on their legs

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1. Mon, 31 August 2026

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   • indiatimes.com12:00first to report
     Science says butterflies taste with their feet, here’s why evolution put chemical sensors on their legs

     Butterflies have specialized sensory structures on their legs, known as gustatory sensilla, that allow them to detect chemicals when they land on a plant. In effect, their feet can act like tiny chemical sensors, helping them identify and assess a plant through physical contact rather than depending solely on sight or smell.