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.

19 hours ago · What are butterflies. Where & how long do they live. What do they eat. What eats them. Also, learn their size, species, anatomy, mating, & metamorphosis stages.

Jul 18, 2025 · A butterfly is any of numerous species of insects belonging to multiple families in the order Lepidoptera and are nearly worldwide in distribution.

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 dots, gaining worldwide recognition.

Butterflies are distributed throughout the world except in the very cold and arid (dry) regions. There are an estimated 17,500 species of butterflies (Papilionoidea) out of about 180,000 species of Lepidoptera. Many butterflies have striking colors and patterns on their wings.

Information is included on butterflies and moths you might find around your home, along with photographs, geographic distribution, host plants and more. We love watching butterflies, …

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 covering their wings, although some butterflies have reduced scales.