Butterfly

What is a butterfly?	A butterfly is an insect known for its colorful, patterned wings.
How many wings do butterflies have?	Four.
Where do butterflies live?	All around the world, in gardens, forests, and meadows.
What do butterflies eat?	Nectar from flowers.

Butterflies are beautiful winged insects that belong to a group called the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea. They are known for their large, colorful wings that fold together when they are resting and their graceful, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossils are from the Paleocene period, about 56 million years ago.

Butterflies go through a fascinating life cycle called complete metamorphosis. It starts when a winged adult lays eggs on plant foliage. These eggs hatch into caterpillars. Caterpillars grow quickly and then turn into a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar changes into an adult butterfly. Once this change is complete, the new butterfly emerges, dries its wings, and flies away.

Butterflies use clever tricks like camouflage, mimicry, and bright warning colors to stay safe from predators. Some butterflies, like the monarch and the painted lady, travel long distances during migration. Butterflies also help nature; some help plants by pollination, while others eat harmful insects. Because of their beauty and importance, butterflies are often celebrated in art and literature. The Smithsonian Institution says that butterflies are among the most appealing creatures in nature.

Etymology

Possibly the original butter-fly. A male brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) in flight.

The word "butterfly" comes from old languages like Old English, where it was called butorflēoge. Similar names existed in Old Dutch and Old High German. One idea is that the name might come from a yellow butterfly called the brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni). Another idea is that people saw butterflies in meadows when they made butter from grass.

Paleontology

Further information: Prehistoric Lepidoptera

Butterflies are very old insects. The earliest fossils are from about 200 million years ago. The oldest known butterfly is Protocoeliades kristenseni. It lived about 55 million years ago in Denmark. Scientists think butterflies came from moths. They changed a lot during a time called the Cenozoic.

Important fossil butterflies include Prodryas persephone. It lived about 34 million years ago in North America. Another old butterfly is Lithopsyche antiqua. It was found on the Isle of Wight. These fossils help scientists learn about butterflies from long ago.

Taxonomy and phylogeny

Further information: Taxonomy of the Lepidoptera

Butterflies are divided into seven families with about 20,000 species. They used to be grouped into two groups: Papilionoidea and the moth-like Hedyloidea. New findings show that the family Hedylidae, part of Hedyloidea, is actually inside Papilionoidea. This means Papilionoidea and Rhopalocera are the same group. Scientists now know how the other six families are related to each other.

Butterfly families
Family	Common name	Characteristics
Hedylidae	American moth-butterflies	Small, brown, like geometrid moths; antennae not clubbed; long slim abdomen
Hesperiidae	Skippers	Small, darting flight; clubs on antennae hooked backwards
Lycaenidae	Blues, coppers, hairstreaks	Small, brightly coloured; often have false heads with eyespots and small tails resembling antennae
Nymphalidae	Brush-footed or four-footed butterflies	Usually have reduced forelegs, so appear four-legged; often brightly coloured
Papilionidae	Swallowtails	Often have 'tails' on wings; caterpillar generates foul taste with osmeterium organ; pupa supported by silk girdle
Pieridae	Whites and allies	Mostly white, yellow or orange; some serious pests of Brassica; pupa supported by silk girdle
Riodinidae	Metalmarks	Often have metallic spots on wings; often conspicuously coloured with black, orange and blue

Biology

Butterflies are amazing insects famous for their bright, colorful wings. They have four wings covered in tiny scales that make them look beautiful. Their bodies have three parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen. Most butterflies have special antennae and a long proboscis to drink nectar from flowers.

Butterflies grow in four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. Caterpillars eat many leaves and grow fast. Then they change into a pupa, where their body turns into an adult butterfly. Adult butterflies live from a week to almost a year, depending on the type. They drink nectar and help plants by pollinating them.

Butterflies live everywhere in the world except Antarctica. Some, like the monarch butterfly, travel very far during migration. They use the sun to find their way and can see special light. Butterflies have many ways to stay safe from animals that might eat them, like bright colors to warn others, looking like another animal, or hiding in plain sight. Some butterflies even taste bad to predators because of chemicals from the plants they eat.

Declining numbers

Butterfly numbers are getting smaller in many parts of the world. This decline is happening to other insects, too. In the Western United States, warmer autumns from global climate change are a big reason why butterflies are disappearing. Between 2000 and 2020, butterfly populations in the United States dropped a lot. Other reasons for this decline include losing their habitats and the use of pesticides.

In culture

Butterflies have been important in art, stories, and myths for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt, they appeared in pictures to show life and freedom. In places like Teotihuacan, Mesoamerica, and later Aztec, Zapotec, and Maya civilisations, butterflies were linked to warriors, fire, and the souls of people who had passed away.

Butterflies appear in many stories and artworks. For example, Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar helps children learn about counting and the days of the week. Butterflies are also used in science. Researchers study their wing colours to create better lights and new paints.