I am a lepidopterist (butterfly enthusiast), and want to share my top 20 butterfly species.
#1 Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)
It is a Palearctic butterfly of the family Nymphalidae that only appears during the afternoon, evening, and night.
They are renowned for feeding on cowpats and decaying animal carcasses.
“Notes and Views of the Purple Emperor” by Ian Robert Penicuick Heslop, George Edward Hyde, and Roy E. Stockley is dedicated to Apatura iris.
#2 Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis)
The Common Jezebel is a medium-sized pierid butterfly that is generally found all over India as well as in Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
The Delias eucharis can be distinguished by the shape of the orange-red spots on the hindwing. It is commonly seen during coffee flowering.
#3 Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
The monarch butterfly is among the most familiar of North American butterflies. Adults live for 2 to 5 weeks during their breeding season.
The adult’s wingspan ranges from 8.9 to 10.2 cm. These butterflies can migrate annually 300 to 1,000 miles.
#4 Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
The painted lady is found throughout Central America, North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. It is the most widespread species of butterfly in the world. The painted lady has a wingspan of 2 to 3 inches.
#5 Glasswing (Greta oto)
Greta oto is a species of brush-footed butterfly that is mainly found in the northern regions of South America and Central America. The Glasswing butterfly is able to carry up to 40 times its own weight.
Editor’s Pick
#6 Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides)
The Blue Morpho is native to Central and South America. It is an iridescent tropical butterfly with a life cycle of 115 days. The males’ wings are broader than those of the females, and they do not feed from flower nectar.
#7 Julia Butterfly (Dryas iulia)
Dryas iuliais a species of brush-footed butterfly that is colored orange with black markings. Females are duller with more black markings. Mating can occur within two weeks of the Dryas iulia’s exit from the chrysalis.
#8 Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
It is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae found primarily in Asia and Europe. The Swallowtail is listed as vulnerable in the Austrian and the South Korean Red Data Books.
#9 Crimson Rose (Pachliopta hector)
The Pachliopta hector is a large swallowtail butterfly protected by law in India. It has a behaviour that is much like that of the common Mormon, and it is very fond of flowers, especially Lantana.
#10 Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)
Zebra longwings are medium-sized butterflies with elongated wings. The wingspan ranges from 72 to 100 mm, and they roost in large groups at night. It is the state butterfly of Florida.
#11 Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
It is a North American nymphalid butterfly with margins of the wings that are powdery white. The Polygonia interrogationis is a holometabolous insect that undergoes four life stages.
#12 Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
The red admiral is found in temperate regions, and it has a wingspan of about 2 inches. Males are territorial and perch during the afternoon until sunset.
The larva is solitary, in a rolled-leaf shelter.
Vanessa atalanta is unmistakable, with the velvety black wings intersected by red bands.
#13 Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Junonia coenia is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae that is sensitive to the cold.
Male sare territorial perchers, usually on bare ground. The Buckeye breeds continuously in warm weather. Females lay eggs singly on their host plants.
#14 Ulysses Butterfly (Papilio ulysses)
Ulysses butterflies are large swallowtail butterfly who are considered to be one of the most elusive butterflies. Their wings span is between 100 and 130 mm. The caterpillars are yellowish-green, with black marks on the thorax.
#15 Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io)
The Peacock is a familiar sight in gardens across Europe and temperate Asia.
The base colour of the wings is a rusty red, and it employs a monogamous mating system.
#16 Goliath Birdwing (Ornithoptera goliath)
It is a birdwing butterfly found in New Guinea that has a wingspan of up to 28 cm. The female is larger than the male, and the male goliath birdwing has forewings that are black.
#17 Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
The Cabbage White is a small-to-medium-sized butterfly species that can be found in almost any type of open space.
The adult flies around feeding from nectars of the plant.
It is estimated that the Cabbage White butterfly can fly up to 100 miles in its lifetime.
Females lay around 350 eggs in their lifetimes. They have a wingbeat frequency averaging 12.8 flaps/sec.
#18 Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
The TBattus philenor is black with iridescent-blue hindwings. Adults have a wingspan from 7 to 13 cm and are seen during the spring and summer months.
#19 Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)
Malachites are part of the Nymphalidae family and are confused with the heliconiine Philaethria dido.
The wings are black with large, translucent light green patches.
#20 Lange’s Metalmark (Apodemia mormo langei)
It is an endangered North American butterfly that lives in the dunes along the southern bank of the Sacramento River. Dorsal wings are largely black with white spots.
Lange’s metalmark has only one generation per year.