Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterised by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight.

Dec 29, 2025 · A butterfly is any of numerous species of insects belonging to multiple families in the order Lepidoptera and are nearly worldwide in distribution.

There are about 17,500 species of butterflies in the world, and around 750 species in the United States. Distinctive characteristics. Butterflies (and moths) are the only group of insects that have scales …

Let’s explore 19 out of the 20,000 butterfly species without further adieu. 1. Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Monarch butterflies have bright orange coloring on their wings with black veins and white …

Dec 12, 2025 · Butterflies have a bilaterally symmetrical body divided into three broad segments: head, thorax, and abdomen. The head is equipped with a pair of segmented antennae, a pair of compound …

Jul 17, 2025 · Discover 27 different types of butterflies with unique features and behaviors in this guide for butterfly enthusiasts. From the iconic Monarch to the elusive Purple Emperor, learn the unique …

Of the 456 butterfly species tracked by NABA, there are 320 species with trends less positive that monarch butterflies. These findings are consistent with other recent analyses of large-scale insect …

Butterfly Identification get closer to the wonders of the natural world. There are over 20,000 butterfly species divided into 6 families They are closely related to moths Butterflies are found all over the …

If you know which butterfly you would like more information on, use our butterfly A to Z.

Explore the history, species, and significance of butterflies. Learn about butterfly families like Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, and more at Butterfly Fact File.