r/Butterflies Jul 27 '25

New Rule: We will no longer allow posts about raising butterflies in captivity.

244 Upvotes

This includes grow kits, raising butterflies in tents or enclosures, and buying/sourcing caterpillars.

This rule is in line with this subreddit’s guiding principle that we always do and choose what is best for the butterfly! Research shows that human interaction and interference with butterflies, especially at the pupal stages, is more harmful than helpful.

Going forward, pictures of butterflies in tent or other small enclosures will be removed. Posts asking for advice on how to “raise” or “rear” butterflies or caterpillars will be removed. Posts asking for how to find eggs will be removed.

Native gardening is always the best way to attract and maintain a healthy butterfly population—no matter the species!

Thank you, Glittering


r/Butterflies Jul 26 '25

New Rule: No More “Helping” Injured Butterfly Posts

82 Upvotes

We have seen an uptick in posts from people wanting advice on how to assist “injured” butterflies.

The truth in every case is—you can’t. Butterflies have naturally very short lives and there is no proven or “good” way to prolong their lives.

I have even seen some posts of people wanting to horrifically cut butterflies’ wings in some cases. Other posts seem well intentioned, but they are becoming a nuisance.

These posts will now be removed.

Thank you, Glittering


r/Butterflies 3h ago

What kind of butterfly is this beauty?

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115 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 6h ago

Ventral Gulf Fritillary

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142 Upvotes

Might be even more beautiful than the dorsal side!


r/Butterflies 5h ago

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

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68 Upvotes

Visit from this lovely butterfly this afternoon. Located in WV.


r/Butterflies 8h ago

Such a cutie

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93 Upvotes

Saw this butterfly as soon as I got home from work.


r/Butterflies 3h ago

California Tortoiseshell in Red Rock Canyon, Alberta

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25 Upvotes

from what I found they don’t really come up this far, so this is super cool!!


r/Butterflies 6h ago

My first time seeing this one.

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31 Upvotes

I went to southern Oregon and went on a small hike. When I came back to the campground I saw this butterfly in the distance so I ran over with my phone to snap a pic and got lucky it didn’t fly away. I didn’t see another one the entire week I was there. I believe it’s a Parnassian (Parnassius smintheus).


r/Butterflies 4h ago

Not a hummingbird, but a moth: the broad-bordered bee hawk-moth

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17 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 4h ago

Queen

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16 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 6h ago

[TTM] Saw some of these on a walk today

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19 Upvotes

Overly edited because it wasn't a very good photo. An unedited one after


r/Butterflies 17h ago

From my garden.

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113 Upvotes

I just love the markings on this little one, especially the orange and metallic blue. It’s some kind of blue but I don’t know the species. We’re in Southern CA.


r/Butterflies 6h ago

The Battle of the Bottom Garden has entered Week 4. Neither side will negotiate.

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13 Upvotes

Every afternoon, like clockwork, the same two red admirals declare war over the same patch at the bottom of my garden.

They spend 20 minutes dogfighting like they’re in Top Gun, one flies off, the other celebrates his glorious victory… then five minutes later they’re back at it again.
Neither has gained an inch of territory in weeks.


r/Butterflies 1d ago

Today

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236 Upvotes

Here they come yay


r/Butterflies 6h ago

One of the smallest butterflies in North America has one of the cleverest anti-predator tricks

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9 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 15m ago

Identification please

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Upvotes

Hello all 🦋

I was super captivated by this butterfly who came through my backyard just a bit ago. I am in northernt Utah! Cannot find a match online through basic search and was curious if any one could tell me what type of butterfly this is? The body was spotted as well. Thanks in advance


r/Butterflies 16h ago

Zebra Longwing Butterfly

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38 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 13h ago

Beauty

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16 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 1d ago

three-tailed tiger swallowtail [Papilio pilumnus] that confused me today

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82 Upvotes

today i went for a walk and on my way back i saw this butterfly in the road, i grabbed something to pick it up and move it and it got on but it would keep crawling on me nonstop, following me around and flailing its frontlimbs. its is cute and confusing, is there reason why a butterfly would willingly crawl on someone? i assumed its because height and how itd give advantages but i am unsure. very beautiful buge anyways :)


r/Butterflies 1d ago

Blue Egg fly, Queensland, Australia.

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625 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 1d ago

I got up real close to this friend in Southern Wisconsin!

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237 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 21h ago

Spotted on a morning walk

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29 Upvotes

I haven’t seen these guys in years, and on a morning walk I just saw this little friend on the lawn.


r/Butterflies 1d ago

White Peacock butterfly (Anartia jatrophae)

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59 Upvotes

White Peacock butterfly (Anartia jatrophae) gathering nectar from frog fruit. Located SW Florida area


r/Butterflies 1d ago

A few of this summer’s monarchs

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122 Upvotes

The monarchs have been loving my swamp milkweed this year, and have let me take many pictures of them while they nectar and lay eggs. Also included a fun shot of a monarch hassling a mourning cloak, she kept dive bombing it but it stuck around and eventually she moved on!

We’ve had a couple of caterpillars but no chrysalises that I’ve seen yet so far. Crossing my fingers to get to see some big caterpillars as the summer goes on.


r/Butterflies 1d ago

is this monarch alright?

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43 Upvotes

it’s lower wings seemed to be blonde rather than orange on both sides and on its upper spots as well. i didn’t get closer because i didn’t want to spook it. the camera doesn’t really capture it well but it was practically white.

is this just genetic variation, does anyone know? or is something wrong with it :-( ? i’m not very knowledgeable on butterflies.