Butterfly wings are transparent and covered in miniature scales, allowing them to flap their wings about five times per second.
There are approximately 17,500 butterfly species found on every continent except Antarctica.
A group of butterflies is sometimes called a flutter.
Butterflies taste with their feet, smell with their antennae, and can see a spectrum of colors beyond human capabilities, including ultraviolet light.
Butterflies have four wings, not two, which they frequently use as a defense mechanism by folding to blend in with surroundings or displaying a full spectrum of colors and patterns to frighten predators. A butterfly’s wings are often their best protection.
Butterflies are cold-blooded and require a body temperature of around 85°F (29.4°C) to activate their flight muscles. Some species, like the North American Monarch, migrate up to 2,500 miles (4,020 km) in search of warmth.
The average lifespan of an adult butterly is roughly three to four weeks, depending on the species. However, the entire life cycle of a butterfly, from egg to larva (caterpillar), to pupa (chrysalis) to adult, can last anywhere between two and nine months.
The pupa (chrysalis) is a protective covering surrounding the caterpillar when it reaches its full size. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis and transforms into a butterfly.
