All About Butterflies

The butterfly collection at the Field Museum of Natural History is a great place to learn about butterflies vs. moths, butterfly bodies, the butterfly life cycle, camouflage and mimicry, and butterfly conservation.

From the Woodland Park Zoo. Butterfly facts, behavior, life cycle, and how you can help with butterfly conservation. The Woodland Park Zoo is a Butterfly Conservation Initiative member.

Resources for teachers, students and amateur lepidopterists, a glossary, tips on attracting butterflies to gardens, lesson plans, a bibliography, and links to butterfly sites around the world. The Amateurs' Corner suggests places for butterfly watching in North America.

Images

For some wonderful butterfly photos, please visit the following sites. Be sure to acknowledge the generosity of the photographers who have provided these images by respecting their copyrights and requests.

Insect Images A joint project from the University of Georgia and the USDA Forest Service Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of North America From the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Insect Images From the California Academy of Sciences

Where are the butterflies?

The Butterflies of North America (U.S. Geological Survey) and Butterflies of Canada (from the Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility) offer distribution maps, photos of both adults and caterpillars, and species accounts.

Butterfly Conservation

The AZA Terrestrial Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group promotes communication among professionals, institutions, and AZA members involved with the educational exhibition, conservation and captive propogation of invertebrates.

Why should we conserve butterflies? The Xerces Society explains why.