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.
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 covering their wings, although some butterflies have reduced scales.
There are over 20,000 butterfly species divided into 6 families They are closely related to moths Butterflies are found all over the world except only Antarctica Find profiles for all butterfly families, genus, and species, including their unique physical and behavioral characteristics here at Butterfly Identification
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, whether we are home or traveling around the country to national parks, nature preserves, or hiking trails.
Both formal and informal approaches apply when anyone explains the types of butterflies native to the world’s fields, forests and residential areas. Informally, butterfly species present themselves as the colorful, winged insects associated with flowers and warm, sunny days.