The Butterfly

Fast Facts

The butterfly is one of the most endearing insects in the world, and there’s quite a bit more than their beauty to be amazed about:

The largest butterfly in the world is the Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing. It lives in the rain forests of New Guinea and has a wingspan of 11 inches. This particular butterfly is an endangered species.

The smallest butterfly in the world is the Western Pygmy Blue, which has a half-inch wingspan.

Butterflies can live in their adult form from a week to a year, depending on their species.

Butterfly wings are colored by scales on the wing; the pigments in these scales create black or brown colors, while blues, greens, reds, and iridescent hues are created by the way light hits differently structured scales.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

There is a butterfly named the Common Mormon butterfly; it is found in India.