Butterflies are large winged insects that often have intricately patterned wings. Because they’re so distinctive, most of us can identify butterflies on sight. But how much do we really know about them?
Scientific classification
To understand butterflies, it’s helpful to look at how they fit into the scientific classification system. There are seven categories within the system developed by Carolus Linnaeus: (1) Kingdom; (2) Phylum or Division; (3) Class; (4) Order; (5) Family; (6) Genus; (7) Species.
Butterflies are firstly categorized as animals (as opposed to plants or fungi). The Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility website explains that butterflies are further classified as Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda). Arthropods have segmented bodies, jointed legs, and an exoskeleton. Crabs and spiders are also Arthropods.
Within the phylum Arthropoda, butterflies belong to a subgroup (class): insects. Insects are categorized as such due to their three-part body (head, thorax, and abdomen) and three pairs of jointed legs on the thorax.
Within the class Insecta, butterflies and moths are grouped together in the Order Lepidoptera. The Department of Horticulture at the University of Kentucky explains that “Lepidoptera” means “scaly wings” in Greek. And, indeed, the wings of Lepidoptera are covered with thousands of tiny scales. It’s the arrangement of the scales that provides the stunning patterns on butterfly wings. In addition to those scales, Lepidoptera have these characteristics:
- Four large wings;
- Sucking mouthparts;
- Large compound eyes; and
- Metamorphosis as part of their life cycles.
What’s the difference between a butterfly and a moth?
What makes a butterfly a butterfly, and not a moth? The Missouri Botanical Garden website explains that there are always exceptions to the rules, but in general, these are the differences between butterflies and moths:
- Butterflies have clubbed or hooked antennae. Moths have feathery or pointed antennae; there are no hooks.
- Most butterflies are active during daylight hours while moths are nocturnal.
- Most butterflies have brightly coloured scales and patterns on their wings. Most moths are dull, solid brown or grey.
- Butterflies have smooth, slender bodies while moths have thicker bodies that appear to be furry.
- Butterflies pupate in chrysalides and do not form cocoons. Most moths pupate inside a cocoon.
- Butterfly wings aren’t hooked together. With moths, the forewing and hindwing on each side of the body are hooked together.
- At rest, butterflies typically hold their wings up and together. An exception is if they are trying to warm up: in that case, they hold their wings stretched out horizontally. Moths, however, almost always rest with their wings at their sides, and with their forewings drawn overtop of their hindwings.
Life Cycle
Butterflies have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
The life of these stunning insects begins when a female butterfly lays fertilized eggs, carefully choosing which plant to leave her eggs on. The plant must be a good host for the caterpillars (larvae) that emerge from those eggs.
Caterpillars don’t move around much. They mainly just eat, consuming nutrients from the plant they hatched on and storing energy for their next phase of life: the pupa or chrysalis. It is during this third stage that the insects go through a complete metamorphosis, changing from caterpillars to butterflies, which is their final stage of life. It is as adult insects that Lepidoptera show off their unique beauty. Unfortunately, this part of their life cycle is usually short-lived. While a few species may live as long as 18 months, most butterflies only live for a week or two after emerging from their chrysalises.
Importance
Like all living organisms, butterflies have an important role to play in earth’s biodiversity and the way our planet’s ecosystem functions. The Butterfly Conservation website takes a comprehensive look at the role of butterflies in the world. Highlights from that list include:
- Butterflies are good indicators of a healthy natural environment.
- Areas that successfully host butterflies and moths also host other invertebrates. As a group, these invertebrates perform essential pollination and pest control functions.
- Butterflies are an important part of the food chain, supporting predators such as birds, bats, and other insects.
- Lepidoptera and their habitats are important to scientists who study changing ecosystems, conservation, and climate change.
- Butterflies and their life cycle are often highlighted in educational programs, especially regarding metamorphosis and migration.
- There are over 250,000 species of butterflies and moths, which is about 25% of all named species.
Butterfly Species Native to North America
Over 700 species of butterflies are native to North America. Going back to the Linnaeus classification system, the order Lepidoptera has two sub-orders: Heterocera (moths) and Rhopalocera (butterflies). The sub-order Rhopalocera has three superfamilies: Hesperioidea (skipper butterflies), Hedyloidea (moth-butterflies), and Papilionoidea (true butterflies). These categories keep breaking down further, grouping together the 700 native species appropriately. But, a look at the superfamilies provides a terrific overview of the butterflies that are native to North America.
Superfamily Papilionoidea
Family Papilionidae
40 species of swallowtails and parnassians
Family Pieridae
70 species of whites and sulfurs
Family Lycaenidae
144 species of gossamer-wings
Family Riodinidae
28 species of metalmarks
Family Nymphalidae
233 species of brush-footed butterflies
Superfamily Hesperioidea
Family Hesperiidae
300 species of skippers
The Butterflies of Ontario website is a terrific resource, providing information and photos of many of the individual species of butterflies in Ontario. The Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility website is not as detailed, but it explains which butterfly species reside in Canada’s different geographic areas, such as the tundra and prairies.
Butterflies are amazing insects. They are stunning to look at and their unique life cycle is quite interesting. They are an important part of life on earth and there are many different species residing across Canada, including the northern territories. Butterflies have a wide appeal to many, including children, gardeners, and scientists. Whether you want to study the insects or simply admire them, why not plant a butterfly garden to attract them to your yard?