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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In Photos: Beautiful Butterflies of the American Deserts

March 25, 2017 | Image Album

By mid-February in the three great hot and dry deserts of the American West, wildflowers turn stark desert landscapes into a sea of color.
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Freeloading Butterflies Get Away with Theft

June 27, 2016 | Article

Stunning new pictures reveal butterfly thieves stealing ant goo in the Amazon forest.
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Photos: Butterflies Snag Goo from Unwitting Ants

June 25, 2016 | Image Album

Stunning new pictures reveal kleptomaniac butterflies in the Amazon forest stealing ant goo.
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6 Spectacular Species Named for David Attenborough

May 08, 2016 | Countdown

From a rare Amazonian butterfly to a ghost shrimp to a pygmy locust, here are 6 spectacular species that are named for David Attenborough.
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Gorgeous Images Reveal Parasitic Plant in 3-Way Symbiotic Relationship

December 30, 2015 | Article

An ant, a caterpillar, and a parasitic plant all interact in a strange web of mutual benefit in the Amazon jungle, new research suggests.
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Photos: A Strange Parasitic Plant in the Amazon

December 30, 2015 | Article

An ant, a caterpillar, and a parasitic plant all interact in a strange web of mutual benefit in the Amazon jungle, new research suggests.
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Sir Butterfly! New Species Named for David Attenborough

December 02, 2015 | Article

The striking new species is the first butterfly to be named for the British broadcaster.
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In Photos: The Spectacular Migration of Monarch Butterflies

October 18, 2015 | Article

Many species of birds and even mammals, such as the great whales, travel thousands of miles to over-winter in warmer climates. Check out these photos of one of the most spectacular migrations.
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Nature's GMOs: Parasites Alter Butterfly Genomes Using Viruses

September 18, 2015 | Article

Genetically modified organisms may usually be thought of as human creations, but scientists now find that monarch butterflies, silkworms, and many other butterflies and moths naturally possess genes from parasitic wasps.
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Thirsty Butterflies Disappearing from the UK

August 10, 2015 | Article

Some butterfly species could disappear from southern Britain in the next 35 years if climate change and habitat loss continue, according to new research.
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