Discovering Life on a Living Planet

Butterflies and Moths

Between 150,000 and 200,000 known species of the order Lepidoptera ("scale-wing") live wherever vegetation exists. Adult butterflies and moths usually have wings with overlapping scales covering transparent membranes. When we handle butterflies and moths, the "dust" that comes off is composed of these minute scales. Wing colors and patterns result from either pigments in the scales or their physical structure. Some species' scales refract light, producing iridescent bands of color. While for us their wing colors are the source of delight, for butterflies and moths they serve practical purposes, including camouflage and sexual self-advertisement.

Swallowtail Butterfly	Monarch Butterfly
Brazilian Blue Morpho Butterfly	Venezuelan Blue Morpho Butterfly
Atlas Moth	Birdwing Butterfly
Glassywing Butterfly	Brush-footed Butterfly
Brahmeid Moth	Moon Moth
Owl Butterfly	Sunset Moth