A butterfly is an insect of the Order
Lepidoptera, and belongs to one of the
superfamilies Hesperioidea (the skippers) or
Papilionoidea (all other butterflies). Some
authors would include also members of the
superfamily Hedyloidea, the American butterfly
moths. They are notable for their usual life
cycleXproceeding from the larval stage as
caterpillars through a pupic metamorphisis into
their winged adult form. The patterns formed by
their brightly coloured wings and their
erratic-yet-graceful flight has made butterfly
watching a popular hobby.
People who study or collect butterflies (or the closely related moths) are called lepidopteristsaurelians.
People who study or collect butterflies (or the closely related moths) are called lepidopteristsaurelians.