Butterfly

Find out everything there is to know about butterflies and stay updated on the latest news with comprehensive articles, interactive features and butterfly pictures at LiveScience.com. Learn more about these fascinating insects as scientists continue to make amazing discoveries about butterflies.

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Close up of a butterfly with blue wings and a black body

All butterflies evolved from ancient moths in North America 100 million years ago

By Soumya Sagar published

Scientists have revealed how butterflies evolved and took over the world in a new tree of life.

Butterflies
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on a milkweed plant flower in Ontario, Canada.

Monarch butterflies teetering ‘on the edge of collapse,’ added to endangered species list

By Stephanie Pappas published

The migratory monarch is threatened by habitat loss, pesticide and herbicide use, and climate change.

Butterflies
A butterfly on a leaf

What's the difference between a moth and a butterfly?

By Tia Ghose published

Though related, there are key differences between them.

Butterflies
A depth scan through the wing scales of a pupa that has completed 83% of its metamorphosis. The left shows the amount of light reflected by the scales, while the phase information on the right shows finer gradations of how far the light traveled to the scales.

New video reveals how 'caterpillar soup' transforms into shimmering butterfly wings

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Scientists watched butterfly wing scales form within the chrysalis.

Butterflies