If you love butterflies, the outdoors and summer then you really should get involved! We are trying to raise awareness of butterflies and how important they are.
Find out about butterflies with our information below and learn more about what makes them so special. Make sure you check out our Fun Butterfly Activities page!
Where can you find butterflies?
All continents except Antarctica. Butterflies are found in living in a variety of different climate environments. Their habitats include; tropical areas, forests, marshes, rivers, swamps, meadows, farmlands and gardens.
What do they eat?
Caterpillars eat leaves; butterflies sip nectar, sap, and juices from fruit.
How do caterpillars change into butterflies?
Caterpillars shed their skin as they grow, then form a chrysalis and change into a butterfly. There are four steps in becoming a butterfly: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult. This process is called metamorphosis, which comes from the Latin words for "changing shape."
Can butterflies fly quickly?The fastest butterflies are the skippers, which can fly at 37 miles per hour, but most butterflies travel at 5 to 12 miles per hour.
Birdwing butterflies have large, angular wings and fly in a similar way to birds.
Monarch butterflies are known for their long migration. Every year monarch butterflies will travel a great distance (sometimes over 4000 km), females will lay eggs and a new generation of monarchs will travel back, completing the cycle.
More facts!
Butterflies are insects.
Butterflies attach their eggs to leaves with a special glue.
Most caterpillars are plant eaters (herbivores).
Butterflies are alive between a week and a year, depending on the species. 
Scientists estimate that there are between 15000 and 20000 different species of butterfly.
Butterflies have four wings.
Butterflies often have brightly coloured wings that have unique patterns made up of tiny scales.
Most butterflies feed on nectar from flowers.
Butterflies have taste receptors on their feet.
