It is estimated that there are about 20,000 species of butterflies in the world. In North America, there are 725 species (north of Mexico), with about 575 of these occurring regularly in the lower 48 states of the United States.
Butterfly Life Cycle
The life cycle consists of four stages:
- Egg – A butterfly starts life as a very small, round, oval or cylindrical egg laid on the leaf of a “host plant”
- Larva (caterpillar) – once the egg hatches, the larva eats the host plant on which it was placed. As the larva grows, they “molt” several times, becoming larger through each step, or “instar”. Common caterpillars
- Pupa (chrysalis) – as the larva reaches its full size, it transforms itself into a sack in which it will make the final transformation into an adult.
- Adult butterfly
After mating, the female butterfly lays small round or oval eggs on a “host” plant as shown below. Butterflies lay their eggs on plants that will be eaten by the caterpillar when it hatches from its egg. For example, the Monarch butterfly lays her eggs on Milkweed, while the Black Swallowtail will usually lay eggs on dill or fennel.
Monarch Butterflies can produce four generations during one summer. The first three live about one month each. The fourth generation is different and can live up to nine months.
Monarch Butterfly Eggs on Milkweed
Did you know that Butterflies are sorted into six main families with over 20,000 species worldwide? These families have different sizes, wing colors, antennae shape and even flight patterns!
In North America alone, there are 725 species (north of Mexico), with about 575 of these occurring regularly in the lower 48 states of the United States.
Click on any of the links below to find out more about that Butterfly Family (or that specific Butterfly… we’ve included a few of the varieties you’ll see around Southern Alabama!)
This magnificent family (Papilionidae) of large butterflies includes more than 600 species worldwide.
The Nymphalid family consists of a number of medium to large size butterflies. They have a small front pair of legs that are covered with long, hairlike scales.
Skippers are small to medium size butterflies characterized by fast, erratic fight. Skippers have short, hairy bodies and small wings.
The Lycaenidae family consists of a large number of mostly small butterflies, more than 100 of which are found in North America.
The Pieridae family consists of a large number of small to medium size butterflies, characterized by orange, white or yellow wings.
Riodinidae is the family of small to medium-sized metalmark butterflies. The name “metalmarks” refers to the small, golden or silvery metallic-looking spots found on their wings.
Part of the Brushfoot Family, The Monarch is perhaps the best known and most loved butterfly in North America.
The longwing, or heliconian, family consists of a small number of butterflies with elongated wings and slender bodies, and large eyes.
Related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths are stockier and have furry bodies, whereas butterflies are smooth.
The Phyciodes family consists of a large number of these small butterflies. Their markings vary, but most are orange and brown.
There are fourteen species of the greater fritillaries (genus Speyeria) and sixteen lesser fritillaries (genus Bolloria).
Butterfly Colors
While we often think of butterflies as beautiful their color can often have significant meaning to the species serving as crucial tools for survival and reproduction. Bright, contrasting colors and patterns often warn predators of toxicity, while other patterns provide camouflage, help regulate body temperature, and assist in identifying or attracting mates.
Key Reasons for Butterfly Colors:
- Warning: Bold colors like orange, red, and yellow on butterflies (such as Monarchs) signal to predators that they are poisonous or distasteful.
- Camouflage: Some butterflies use duller colors or patterns that blend with their surroundings to hide from predators.
- Mating and Species Recognition: Bright colors, patterns, and even UV light reflections are used to attract mates and help identify others of the same species.
- Defense/Startle Tactics: Large spots, particularly “eyespots” that resemble owl eyes, can confuse or scare away predators.
- Temperature Regulation: Darker colors, often involving melanin, help butterflies absorb sunlight for warmth, which is essential for flight.
Looking for Even More Information?
Butterflies play a huge part in pollinating our gardens and are vital to our ecosystem. They facilitate the reproduction of flowers, fruits, and vegetables by transferring pollen while foraging for nectar. Supporting them involves planting native host plants (like milkweed) and nectar sources, avoiding pesticides, and providing water sources.
Supporting the butterflies starts with learning as much as we can, and while the information on this page is a great starting point there is so much more to learn. Here are a few links that may help you on your journey.