Butterfly Families & Anatomy

In the butterfly world, there are six commonly recognized families of butterflies (and over 20 for moths!).


  1. Swallowtails
    2.
    • These butterflies are generally the largest and most have long tails off of their hind wings.  When the wings are spread, the tails may look similar to those of swallows (the birds), hence the name.  They fly strongly and often glide.  A common example is the black swallowtail or the tiger swallowtail.
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  2. Whites and Sulphurs
    3.
    • These butterflies are medium-sized and are usually smooth shades of white and yellow.  You may see whites in your garden laying eggs on cabbage!  They fly with a continuous fluttering and rarely glide.  Cabbage whites are probably one of the most common species.
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  3. Gossamer Wings
    4.
    • These butterflies are all of the small blues, coppers, hairstreaks, and metalmarks.  They usually flutter constantly and are rarely seen with their wings spread apart.  A common species is the eastern (and western) tailed blue of which the males are often gathered in groups on damp ground.
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  4. Brush-Footed Butterflies
    5.
    • These butterflies are medium-sized and usually dark in color.  They have such a strong and rapid flight that they are often hard to get a good look at, though they do occasionally glide.  There are so many of them that the only good identifying characteristic is their flight.  Common examples are fritillaries and the red-spotted purple (white admiral in the far north).
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  5. Satyrs
    6.
    • These butterflies tend to be medium-sized and brown in color.  They fly weakly and often bob up and down.  Their name comes from the beautiful dancing flight they have.  Satyrs live mostly in partially shaded woods edges and actually cast their eggs into tall grasses while flying!  These are very secretive butterflies and are rarely seen in normal gardens.
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  6. Skippers
    7.
    • These butterflies are small and brown.  They fly very rapidly and somewhat crazily.  Some experts argue that they are not true butterflies due to their different wing shapes and thick bodies.  So, to be politically correct, they are neither butterflies nor moths, but a separate group all their own.  The most common by far is the silver-spotted skipper, one that often sort of clicks as it flies by one's head!
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    Parts of a Butterfly

    black swallowtail underside
     


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