15+ Butterflies That Take Your Breath Away With Their Enchanting Beauty

It’s even hard to imagine spring without beautiful butterflies flying from flower to flower. But if you pay close attention, they can be seen at any time of the year. Whether they are small or as big as a human hand, butterflies fill our eyes with their colors, the unique shape of their wings and the almost magical feeling they convey. As with any insect, the presence of butterflies is fundamental in the ecosystem, as they pollinate flowers, among other important functions. Yes, butterflies are amazing beings, and there are species so beautiful and striking that it is worth discovering more about them.

O awesome.club wants to share with you the charm of the most beautiful and intriguing butterflies in the world. Get ready for a beauty flight!

It is known as a transparent butterfly for having wings with this characteristic, almost completely colorless. The species can be found in humid regions of Central America, often making long migrations between Mexico and Panama. It feeds on the nectar of tropical flowers and, as an adult, has a wingspan of between 5.5 and 6 centimeters.

The dark lines present on the wings of this butterfly resemble the number 88 (in some cases, they are more like 89), and that is where its popular name comes from. It is present in tropical areas, ranging from Mexico to Costa Rica, but specimens have already been found in Colombia and the US state of Texas. As adults, they like to feed on decaying fruit. There is another very similar species that lives from Mexico to Argentina: the Diaethria clymena. She also has the same number “tattooed” on her wings.

In 1996, this beautiful butterfly was declared the official butterfly of Florida, United States, despite its natural habitat extending across Central and South America and the Caribbean. The white and yellowish lines on a dark background present on their wings are very reminiscent of the coat of zebras. When it becomes an adult, this insect feeds on pollen as well as nectar. It is for this reason that she has a great longevity, being able to live for up to three months. Another feature of the zebra butterfly is that it likes to live in groups of up to 70 individuals, all of whom even sleep together in the same place.

The colors of this butterfly, which can be found in the Argentine Mesopotamia region and in Buenos Aires, range from light sky blue to white. Since 2017, it is officially one of the natural symbols of the province of Buenos Aires, and can be seen flying between the months of December and March. But sometimes she graces until May. The butterfly never goes unnoticed, as it is a large and striking species. Due to the destruction of the natural habitat, the insect is becoming increasingly rare.

The first thing that strikes you about this butterfly is its large size. It has a wingspan of up to 20 cm. In addition, the insect is known to have wings that resemble owl eyes. It originally inhabits forest regions from southern Mexico to southern Brazil, passing through Trinidad and Tobago.

It can be found in Sri Lanka and southern India all year round, even flying through urban traffic. However, the butterfly appears more frequently and in greater numbers during and after the monsoons. Males of the species like to sunbathe and perch in puddles of water. Capturing such a butterfly is a difficult task, as they fly quickly, changing trajectory frequently. 🇧🇷 These insects are famous pollinators of cardamom, one of the plants from which they extract their food.

When this butterfly is at rest, its appearance resembles that of a dry leaf. She lives in Europe and Asia, being very present in Japan and China. Their habits are crepuscular or nocturnal, and may even be confused with more common moths. Females are much larger than males, reaching 50 to 90 mm in wingspan.

The bright colors and circles present on the wings of these butterflies resemble the plumage of a peacock. However, such a feature is useful for the insect to scare away predators: birds and rodents, mostly. The butterfly inhabits Asia and Europe. It is often found in gardens, pastures and woods. When it flies, the wings produce a sound that humans can hear, and this is yet another defense mechanism of the beautiful insect.

It is among the most beautiful European species not only because of its color but also because of its shape. Its name was given by the discoverer, who in turn wanted to pay homage to Queen Isabel II of Spain. It has nocturnal habits, that is, it only flies at night in the months of May and June. These butterflies are very present in France and Spain, and in the latter country they have been declared of “special interest”, since they are attracted by city lights and end up being prevented from following their path and mating.

Unlike other species, this butterfly does not feed on the nectar of flowers. It likes tree sap, decaying flesh, animal urine and excrement, and is also attracted to human sweat. It is found in forests, humid forests and rivers in Europe and Asia. The scales of its wings change color in contact with the light, creating a metallic effect that gives the butterfly an air of royalty.

As its name suggests, the butterfly comes from Bhutan. The combination of colors and shapes meant that the insect was heavily hunted, entering the list of “rare” species to be seen and counting on the protection of an Indian law (India is a neighboring country). The butterfly usually flies between the treetops, hardly going down to the ground. The body and wings of the Bhutan’s glory exude a pleasant aroma, which remains in the environment even days after the insect’s death.

This beautiful genus of butterflies is found in Mexico and tropical areas of Central and South America. It is easily identified in nature due to its large size and blue color. Only, in reality, these butterflies are not blue. The effect is produced by the scales on its wings, which reflect different scales of light. As adults, such insects feed on sap, fermented fruit, fungi and decaying flesh. And since they absorb the poisons of the plants they consume, they are toxic to their predators.

Another beautiful European species, of diurnal habits, easily located by its size and striking color. Unfortunately, in some regions, populations have been decreasing as a result of the use of pesticides in carrot and fennel plantations: when in a larval state, the insect feeds precisely on these plants.

Bright colors work as a defense mechanism for this butterfly. Faced with them, predators understand that they are not edible insects, since they are really toxic. The characteristic is the result of the absorption of toxins present in the plants devoured by the insect. The species is very common in India and Sri Lanka, with a very fast metamorphosis: to go from egg to adult, it takes about 39 to 47 days. It usually migrates in groups to mating areas.

It is no coincidence that this butterfly is considered the largest in the world, as it reaches up to 28 centimeters in wingspan. On the other hand, its habitat is reduced: the insect lives in the tropical forests of northern Papua New Guinea. It is a butterfly that feeds on a single climbing plant, used as a nest where the female lays a single egg. When the larva hatches from the egg, it continues to feed on the same plant. In its country of origin, it is protected by a specific law, implemented in the face of indiscriminate hunting that has led the insect to enter the risk of extinction.

The characteristic color of the so-called emerald peacock butterfly is a result of the reflection of light on the scales of its wings. The species is native to Southeast Asian countries, loves the nectar of citrus flowers and is considerably large. With its wings open, it can measure up to 10 centimeters.

The species inhabits Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Moluccas Islands. It is the tourist symbol of Queensland, one of the Australian states. It is a large butterfly, reaching 14 centimeters in wingspan. When the insect is flying, its intense blue color is not visible, as light is reflected off the wings, which become greyish. The mechanism is a form of camouflage. On the other hand, males are easily attracted to blue objects, which they think are the females of the species.

The red admiral butterfly can be found in almost every continent on the planet, but it really likes temperate climates. Some subspecies prefer to hibernate in winter, while others migrate to warmer locations. When moving from one point of the globe to another, the butterfly flies at great heights, taking advantage of the wind to save energy.

Are there any other insects that you find intriguing and would like to learn more about? Does the region where you live usually have butterflies? Leave your comment!