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  1. Butterfly - Wikipedia

    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.

  2. Butterfly | Description, Insect, Life Cycle, Classification, & Facts ...

    Dec 29, 2025 · A butterfly is any of numerous species of insects belonging to multiple families in the order Lepidoptera and are nearly worldwide in distribution.

  3. Butterfly facts | Insects & Arachnids | BBC Earth

    Sep 30, 2025 · Butterflies are actually just colourful, day-flying versions of moths. They evolved from moths, and are sometimes exceptionally hard to tell apart from them. The wing colours of some …

  4. Butterflies - Smithsonian Institution

    Due to their bright colors and visits to flowers, butterflies are the most familiar of insects to humans. There are about 17,500 species of butterflies in the world, and around 750 species in the United States.

  5. Lepidoptera | INFORMATION | Animal Diversity Web - ADW

    What makes a butterfly a butterfly? In common with many other insects, adult butterflies have antennae, compound eyes, three pairs of legs, a hard exoskeleton, and a body that is divided into three parts: …

  6. All About Butterflies - Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory

    All butterflies and moths are insects (Class: Insecta). Insects are the most abundant and diverse group of animals, making up over 58% of the world’s known biodiversity. They can be found living on land, …

  7. Butterflies: Characteristics, Diet, Facts & More [Fact Sheet]

    Welcome to this comprehensive guide on butterflies, one of the most colorful and fascinating creatures that grace our gardens and wild spaces. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of these winged …

  8. Butterfly - New World Encyclopedia

    Butterflies belong to Lepidoptera or scaly-winged insects (lepidos = scales and pteron = wings in Greek). Butterflies have fine scales on their wings that look like a fine powder.

  9. Butterfly School: What is a butterfly?

    What is a butterfly? The term Lepidoptera, which means "scaled wings" refers to butterflies and moths. Butterflies and moths are arthropods and insects. The special characteristics that make an insect a …

  10. Butterfly | Encyclopedia.com

    May 29, 2018 · Butterflies are insects in the order Lepidoptera, which includes the moths. Butterflies at rest fold their wings vertically over their head, whereas moths hold their wings horizontally. Most …