Butterflies are celebrated all through the world for his or her shiny colours and complex patterns. Along with moths, they make up the insect order Lepidoptera, and these stunning flying bugs are discovered on all continents besides Antarctica.
On this web page is an inventory of the world’s most stunning butterflies with photos and info.
Web page Index
The Most Lovely Butterflies In The World
Blue Morpho
Scientific Identify: Morpho helenor
Household: Nymphalidae
The place Discovered: Central and South America
IUCN Conservation Standing: Not Listed
The blue morpho is a rainforest butterfly recognized for the gorgeous iridescent blue coloration of its wings. With a wingspan of as much as 20 cm / 7.9 in, the blue morpho can be one of many world’s largest butterflies.
The butterfly’s stunning blue coloration is brought about not by pigment, however by gentle reflecting off tens of millions of microscopic scales and hairs within the insect’s wings. This is named structural coloration, and is seen in most brightly-colored butterflies.
The butterfly’s coloration is considered a protection mechanism; a sudden flash of these shiny blue wings could also be sufficient to momentarily startle a possible predator, giving the blue morpho an opportunity to flee.
Native to neotropical habitats from southern North America to Argentina, the blue morpho prefers the sheltered environments of forest canopies. It feeds on fermenting fruits.
Morpho helenor is one among a number of associated blue butterfly species often known as blue morphos (an instance of one other is Morpho peleides). It itself has many subspecies.
Clipper
Scientific Identify: Parthenos sylvia
Household: Nymphalidae
The place Discovered: Southeast Asia, Australia
IUCN Conservation Standing: Not Listed
The clipper is a spectacular butterfly discovered throughout South and Southeast Asia. Its wings boast a hanging sample of colours that vary from shiny blue and inexperienced to deep browns.
Clippers are swift fliers, usually present in forest clearings and round human habitations. Their caterpillars feed on host crops like Passiflora vines, and adults usually take pleasure in sipping on nectar.
Clippers are recognized for his or her alternating flapping and gliding flight sample.
Comma
Scientific Identify: Polygonia c-album
Household: Nymphalidae
The place Discovered: Europe and temperate Asia
IUCN Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The Comma butterfly is a ravishing butterfly species simply recognized by its ragged wing edges and distinct white ‘comma’ mark on the underside of the hindwings.
The comma is present in temperate areas of Europe and Asia, and is one among a number of species of genus Polygonia often known as commas; others within the group embrace the Asian comma, Polygonia c-aureum, present in Asia, and the jap comma, Polygonia comma, present in North America.
The comma, whose ragged, orange-brown wings present wonderful camouflage, is usually discovered on nettle crops in its larval (caterpillar) stage.
Widespread Blue
Scientific Identify: Polyommatus icarus
Household: Lycaenidae
The place Discovered: Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia
IUCN Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The Widespread Blue is a small butterfly present in grasslands and meadows throughout Europe and Asia. The male is especially stunning, trying like a glowing gem with its blue wings with white borders. The feminine is extra refined, with orange-brown wings bordered with orange spots.
The butterfly’s caterpillars usually feed on the frequent chicken’s-foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus, though different meals crops are recognized.
Widespread Jezebel
Scientific Identify: Delias eucharis
Household: Pieridae
The place Discovered: South and Southeast Asia
IUCN Conservation Standing: Not Listed
The frequent Jezebel is a medium-sized butterfly with vibrant yellow and purple markings on a white background, framed by black borders.
Native to South and Southeast Asia, the frequent Jezebel is present in habitats starting from rainforests to cities, and is a typical customer to gardens.
The species’ conspicuous coloration is aposematic, warning predators of its unpalatability. The butterfly flies excessive within the rainforest cover, and the intense coloration of its underwings in comparison with the comparatively plain look of the highest of its wings could also be an adaptation to warn birds flying under it.
Crimson Rose
Scientific Identify: Pachliopta hector
Household: Papilionidae
The place Discovered: South Asia
IUCN Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The crimson rose is a ravishing south Asian butterfly with velvety black wings adorned with hanging crimson patches. Its wingspan can attain as much as 90-110 mm, and the species has a vivid purple physique.
This species belongs to the genus Pachliopta, a gaggle often known as the red-bodied swallowtails, part of the swallowtail household, Papilionidae.
The crimson rose is discovered all through a lot of India, in addition to in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and prospers in a wide range of habitats from sea stage to mountainsides.
The butterfly’s shiny coloration and distinctive flight sample serve to warn potential predators that it’s poisonous; the species collects toxins from the crops it eats as a caterpillar. In its grownup kind it feeds on nectar from flowers.
(Jap) Black Swallowtail
Scientific Identify: Papilio polyxenes
Household: Papilionidae
The place Discovered: North America
IUCN Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The jap black swallowtail, also referred to as the black swallowtail or American swallowtail, has black wings punctuated by yellow spots and blue iridescence, with attribute elongated tail extensions of all swallowtail butterflies.
This hanging butterfly is extensively distributed throughout North America, and could be present in open, sunny areas reminiscent of fields, gardens and parks. It prefers heat or tropical habitats.
Caterpillars are discovered on a wide range of crops, together with angelica, parsley, dill and fennel, making them a well-known sight for a lot of gardeners.
As a protection, the larva possesses an osmeterium, a V-shaped organ on the entrance of the thorax that emits a foul odor to discourage predators. (This can be a attribute of the larvae of all swallowtail butterflies.)
Glasswing Butterfly
Scientific Identify: Greta oto
Household: Nymphalidae
The place Discovered: Central and South America
IUCN Conservation Standing: Not Listed
The glasswing butterfly is known as for its translucent wings, that are an adaptation to hide the insect from predators in opposition to a variety of backgrounds.
The glasswing butterfly is often present in rainforest habitats from Mexico south to Panama, however is sometimes seen as far north as Texas. It sips nectar from a wide range of flowering crops, particularly these of genus Lantana.
As a caterpillar, the glasswing butterfly feeds primarily on crops of genus Cestrum. Toxins in these crops make the butterfly toxic to predators.
Gulf Fritillary
Scientific Identify: Agraulis vanillae
Household: Nymphalidae
The place Discovered: Southern United States, Central America, and South America
IUCN Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The Gulf Fritillary is a hanging, medium-sized butterfly notable for its vibrant orange wings speckled with black spots. The undersides of its wings have distinctive silver markings.
This stunning orange butterfly is discovered within the southeastern United States, Central America, and northern South America. It makes use of ardour vines as host crops for its caterpillars. As an grownup, it feeds on the nectar of Lantana crops.
The species’ caterpillars are shiny orange with lengthy, tender spines. Adults are generally seen in varied open habitats, together with meadows, parks, and gardens.
Malachite
Scientific Identify: Siproeta stelenes
Household: Nymphalidae
The place Discovered: Central and South America
IUCN Conservation Standing: Not Listed
The Malachite is a ravishing neotropical butterfly with massive wings with a novel mosaic of black and vivid inexperienced markings, harking back to the mineral malachite. This stunning butterfly inhabits rainforests and secondary forests from South Texas to Brazil.
Malachites are sometimes noticed fluttering within the dappled daylight of the understory, the place they feed on flower nectar, rotting fruit, and even chicken droppings. Their caterpillars feed on crops from the Acanthaceae household.
Monarch
Scientific Identify: Danaus plexippus
Household: Nymphalidae
The place Discovered: North America, Central America, South America, Australia, and a few Pacific Islands
IUCN Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The Monarch butterfly has vivid orange wings crisscrossed with black veins and edged with a black border speckled with white spots.
Males could be distinguished from females by the presence of a small black spot on every hind wing that releases pheromones, and veins that are usually barely thinner than these of the females.
Monarchs have a wingspan starting from 8.9 to 10.2 centimeters / 3.5 to 4.0 inches, making them one of many bigger butterfly species generally discovered throughout North America.
The Monarch butterfly is famend for its outstanding annual migration, touring 1000’s of miles from North America to central Mexico and again, a journey that spans a number of generations.
Orange-Barred Sulphur
Scientific Identify: Phoebis philea
Household: Pieridae
The place Discovered: Southern United States, Central America, and northern South America
IUCN Conservation Standing: Not Listed
The orange-barred sulphur has vibrant yellow wings with distinctive orange bars on the higher aspect in males and duller yellow or greenish-white in females.
The wingspan of this eye-catching butterfly usually ranges between 68 and 80 millimeters, making it one of many bigger species throughout the sulphur butterfly group.
The orange-barred sulphur is discovered within the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and all through northern South America.
Males of the species could also be seen participating in communal “mud-puddling” conduct, gathering on moist sand or mud to ingest important minerals and salts.
Peacock Butterfly
Scientific Identify: Aglais io
Household: Nymphalidae
The place Discovered: Europe and temperate Asia
IUCN Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The peacock butterfly has strikingly colourful wings adorned with vibrant eye-spots on a wealthy reddish-brown background. The eyespots are an adaptation for startling predators, giving the butterfly an opportunity to flee.
This stunning butterfly is discovered throughout Europe and temperate Asia, in gardens, woodlands, and grassy areas the place stinging nettles, its larval meals plant, are plentiful. As an grownup, it may be seen gathering nectar from crops reminiscent of buddleia.
Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing
Scientific Identify: Ornithoptera alexandrae
Household: Papilionidae
The place Discovered: Papua New Guinea
IUCN Conservation Standing: Endangered
The Queen Alexandra’s birdwing is the biggest butterfly on the earth, with females boasting a wingspan as much as 12 inches / 30 cm, considerably bigger than the males. Its spectacular wings are vibrant and colourful, with females displaying brown and white wings with yellow and blue accents, and males that includes a extra hanging electrical blue and inexperienced sample in opposition to a darkish background.
The Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing butterfly is solely discovered within the lowland tropical rainforests of Oro Province in Papua New Guinea close to the town of Popondetta. Its major meals crops are vines of genus Pararistolochia.
Purple Admiral
Scientific Identify: Vanessa atalanta
Household: Nymphalidae
The place Discovered: North America, Europe, northern Africa, and Asia
IUCN Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The purple admiral is a medium-sized butterfly with hanging black wings, marked by vibrant purple bands and white spots, making it simply recognizable. Its wingspan usually ranges from about 45 to 50 millimeters (roughly 1.8 to 2.0 inches).
The butterfly is discovered throughout temperate areas of North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, thriving in a wide range of habitats together with woodlands, gardens, parks, and grassy areas, the place its larval host crops like nettles and hops can be found.
The purple admiral is usually one of many newest butterflies to be noticed earlier than the onset of winter.
Scarlet Swallowtail / Scarlet Mormon
Scientific Identify: Papilio rumanzovia
Household: Papilionidae
The place Discovered: Southeast Asia to northern Australasia
IUCN Conservation Standing: Not Listed
The Scarlet Swallowtail (also referred to as the scarlet Mormon) is a hanging butterfly with a deep purple and black coloration.
The species has a substantial wingspan, usually measuring between 120 to 140 millimeters (about 4.7 to five.5 inches), making it one of many bigger species throughout the swallowtail household.
the Scarlet Swallowtail is discovered throughout Southeast Asia and the western Pacific areas, together with the Philippines, Taiwan, and elements of Australia. It thrives in tropical and subtropical rainforests, usually seen fluttering excessive within the cover and sometimes descending to decrease vegetation to feed or lay eggs. Its larvae feed on citrus crops.
Swallowtail
Scientific Identify: Papilio machaon
Household: Papilionidae
The place Discovered: Europe, Asia, and North America
IUCN Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The swallowtail is well acknowledged by its massive, vibrant yellow wings adorned with black vein markings and a collection of blue and purple spots close to the tails of the hindwings. Its wingspan usually ranges from 65 to 86 millimeters (about 2.6 to three.4 inches), that includes the attribute tail-like extensions on the hindwings that give swallowtails their title.
The primary of the swallowtails to be named, the species is also referred to as the Previous World swallowtail to distinguish it from different swallowtails of household Papilionidae. It is likely one of the solely swallowtails generally seen in Europe.
The swallowtail has a broad vary that extends throughout the northern hemisphere, together with Europe, Asia, and North America. This species thrives in various habitats reminiscent of meadows, marshes, river valleys, and gardens, significantly the place its larval host crops, together with varied species of the Apiaceae household like fennel and parsley, are ample.
Ulysses Butterfly
Scientific Identify: Papilio ulysses
Household: Papilionidae
The place Discovered: Australasia
IUCN Conservation Standing: Not Listed
One in every of Australia’s most stunning butterflies, the Ulysses butterfly is understood for its sensible, iridescent blue wings, edged with black. Its wingspan is often round 140 mm / 5.5 in. Usually for a swallowtail butterfly, every of its hindwings has a tail-like projection.
The Ulysses butterfly is predominantly discovered within the tropical rainforests of northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands. It prospers in moist, lush environments the place it flutters excessive within the cover, usually descending to decrease ranges to feed on the nectar of flowering crops.
This stunning blue butterfly is used as a vacationer emblem for Queensland, Australia.
Zebra Longwing
Scientific Identify: Heliconius charithonia
Household: Nymphalidae
The place Discovered: Southern United States, Central America, and northern South America
IUCN Conservation Standing: Not Listed
The zebra longwing has elongated wings with a particular sample of yellow stripes on a black background, giving this stunning butterfly a hanging, zebra-like look.
The wingspan of this species usually ranges from 70 to 100 millimeters (about 2.8 to 4 inches), with its slender physique and gradual, swish flight including to its elegant demeanor.
The zebra longwing is discovered within the southern United States, south by way of Central America to the Amazon basin in South America. It’s the state insect of Florida.
This hanging butterfly thrives in heat, tropical and subtropical environments, frequenting a wide range of habitats together with hardwood hammocks (areas of closed cover forest), gardens, and alongside forest edges. As an grownup, it feeds on each pollen and nectar. As a caterpillar, its host crops are a number of species of passionflowers.
Zebra Swallowtail
Scientific Identify: Protographium marcellus
Household: Papilionidae
The place Discovered: Southeastern United States
IUCN Conservation Standing: Not Listed
The zebra swallowtail is well recognizable by its pale white wings marked with black zebra-like stripes and patches of purple and blue. Like different swallowtail butterflies, it has lengthy, tail-like extensions on its hindwings.
This distinctive butterfly usually has a wingspan starting from 6 to 10 centimeters (about 2.4 to 4 inches).
The zebra swallowtail is primarily discovered within the jap United States, significantly from Florida to southern Ontario, and is the state butterfly of Tennessee.
The popular habitat of the zebra swallowtail consists of moist woodland areas close to rivers or swamps, the place its larval host plant, the pawpaw tree, is ample.
Why Do Butterflies Have Brightly-Coloured Wings?
Like every little thing in nature, a butterfly’s shiny colours aren’t only for present; the colours and patterns are variations which have advanced to serve quite a few organic functions.
A butterfly’s colours can act as a mechanism for warmth absorption or reflection, preserving the butterfly working on the right temperature, permitting it to get on with the vital issues in life, reminiscent of feeding and replica.
A butterfly’s wings usually play a key position in communication and survival. Brilliant colours could be a warning sign, a phenomenon often known as aposematism, that indicators to predators that the butterfly is probably poisonous or foul-tasting.
Mimicry, one other survival technique, is when butterflies have advanced to mimic the looks of different, extra harmful species. The attention-like markings often known as eyespots on the wings of many butterfly species mimic the eyes of bigger animals to scare away potential predators.
Eyespots and brightly-colored wings can be rapidly flashed to startle or confuse potential predators; a technique often known as deimatic conduct.
The colours and patterns can help in mating rituals, attracting companions with particular visible cues that signify health and species id.
Uncover Extra With Lively Wild
Discover out extra about butterflies on thee following pages:
Uncover the distinction between moths and butterflies: Moth Vs Butterfly
You will discover out extra about bugs on this web page: Bugs – The Final Information
Uncover extra invertebrates on this web page: Record Of Invertebrates
Turn out to be an professional on your entire animal kingdom: Animals – The Final Information
