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- DictionaryBut·ter·fly/ˈbədərˌflī/
noun
- 1. a nectar-feeding insect with two pairs of large, typically brightly colored wings that are covered with microscopic scales. Butterflies are distinguished from moths by having clubbed or dilated antennae, holding their wings erect when at rest, and being active by day.
- 2. a showy or frivolous person: "a social butterfly"
verb
- 1. split (a piece of meat or fish) almost in two and spread it out flat: "butterfly the shrimp using a small sharp knife"
Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran suborder Rhopalocera, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight.
May 3, 2024 · Learn about butterflies, the colourful and diverse insects that belong to the order Lepidoptera. Find out how they undergo metamorphosis, what they feed on, and which families they belong to.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Due to their bright colors and visits to flowers, butterflies are the most familiar of insects to humans. There are about 17,500 species of butterflies in the world, and around 750 species in the United States. Distinctive characteristics.
- What Do Butterflies symbolize?
- How to Identify A Butterfly
- Main Families of Butterflies
- Types of Butterflies with Pictures and Names
- Monarch Butterfly
- Red Admiral Butterfly
- Black Swallowtail Butterfly
- Giant Swallowtail
- Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly
- Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
Butterflies fluttering around gardens are synonymous with warm summer days. However, some people attach special symbolism or meaning to butterflies. For example, in Asian cultures, butterflies have come to mean long life or love. In Christianity, the change of the caterpillar into a butterfly symbolizes the resurrection when the caterpillar “dies” ...
Butterflies are a type of invertebrate insect with 4 wings that are usually brightly colored. These animal types belong to the class Insecta in the order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths both belong to this order). Butterflies are grouped into 6 families, and moths are in the family Hedylidae. Like all other insects, butterflies have six legs and...
All butterfly species are classified by the family they belong to. Butterflies in some groups have common identifying features. The main families of butterflies are as follows: TheNymphalidaefamily has around 6,000 species of butterflies and include monarchs, admirals, emperors, and tortoiseshells. Butterflies in the Lycaenidae family contain small...
Let’s look in more detail at some of the most common butterflies you are likely to see flying around your garden during warm sunny days.
The most iconic butterfly is the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) with its orange wings, black veins, and white markings. They are also called ‘common tiger’ butterflies, ‘the wanderer,’ and ‘milkweed butterflies.’ Monarchs have a wingspan of 3.5” to 4” (9 – 10 cm) and they rest with their wings closed.
The red admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) has striking black or brown wings with vivid orange/red and white markings. This is somewhat smaller than the elegant monarchs, and they have a smaller wingspan of 2” (5 cm).
Some of the largest species of butterflies in North America are from the genus Papilio. The black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) is an especially striking butterfly in the family Papilionidae. Its wings are black with yellow markings or dots on the hind wings. There are also beautiful blue and red markings on the base of its hind wings. As with mo...
As its name implies, the giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is the largest in the family Papilionidaeand it is also the largest species in North America. Male giant swallowtails have an average wingspan of up to 5.8” (15 cm). Their striking black and yellow appearance look stunning against green foliage in summer gardens.
The red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis) is an interesting butterfly as it has developed to mimic the appearance of other butterflies. This butterfly in the family Nymphalidae,which also includes the ‘white admiral.’
Another of the beautiful species of butterfly from the family Papilionidae is the tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). This tailed butterfly has yellow and black patterns with “tiger” stripes on the upper-side of its forewings. In the summer and fall, you can often find tiger swallowtails on asters and sweet peas.
- Butterfly Wings Are Transparent. How can that be? We know butterflies as perhaps the most colorful, vibrant insects around! Well, a butterfly's wings are covered by thousands of tiny scales, and these scales reflect light in different colors.
- Butterflies Taste With Their Feet. Butterflies have taste receptors on their feet to help them find their host plants and locate food. A female butterfly lands on different plants, drumming the leaves with her feet until the plant releases its juices.
- Butterflies Live on an All-Liquid Diet. Speaking of butterflies eating, adult butterflies can only feed on liquids—usually nectar. Their mouthparts are modified to enable them to drink, but they can't chew solids.
- A Butterfly Must Assemble Its Own Proboscis—Quickly. A butterfly that can't drink nectar is doomed. One of its first jobs as an adult butterfly is to assemble its mouthparts.
Learn about the diverse and colorful world of butterflies, their taxonomy, behavior, anatomy, and life cycle. Find out how they feed, communicate, mate, and adapt to different habitats and predators.
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Learn about the monarch butterfly, one of the most recognizable and well studied butterflies on the planet. Find out how they use milkweed, migrate, and face threats to their survival.
