Butterfly

Scientific Name: Rhopalocera (a 'group' or informal super-family classification for butterflies)

Order & Family: Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Papilionoidea (true butterflies), with numerous families and subfamilies within this superfamily.

Size: Butterfly sizes vary greatly depending on the species, ranging from very small, with wingspans of less than 1 inch (2.5 cm), to large species like the Queen Alexandra's birdwing with wingspans exceeding 10 inches (25 cm). Most common species have wingspans between 1.5 to 4 inches (4 to 10 cm).

Butterfly

Natural Habitat

Butterflies can be found in a wide variety of habitats across the globe, excluding Antarctica. These include forests, grasslands, meadows, deserts, wetlands, agricultural areas, and urban gardens, wherever their specific host plants and nectar sources are available.

Diet & Feeding

Adult butterflies primarily feed on nectar from flowers, which provides them with energy. Some species may also feed on tree sap, rotting fruit, pollen, or dissolved minerals from damp soil. Caterpillars, on the other hand, have chewing mouthparts and typically feed on the leaves of specific host plants, sometimes causing significant defoliation.

Behavior Patterns

Butterflies are known for their complete metamorphosis, which includes four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. Adult butterflies are typically diurnal, active during the day. They are often seen fluttering among flowers, feeding on nectar. Their flight patterns can vary from slow and graceful to rapid and erratic, depending on the species. Many species undertake migratory journeys.

Risks & Benefits

Butterflies are primarily beneficial insects. As adults, they are important pollinators, transferring pollen between flowers as they feed on nectar, which is crucial for the reproduction of many plants, including crops. They also serve as a food source for various predators like birds, bats, and other insects, thus playing a role in the food web. There are generally no direct risks to humans from butterflies. However, some caterpillar species can be agricultural pests, causing damage to crops by defoliation.

Identified on: 6/30/2025