How to identify 10 common butterfly species

By: Catie Leary 

Photo: Five Acre Geographic/Flickr

Can you identify me?

Insects can spark fear and revulsion in the hearts of even the bravest men, and yet there’s something about butterflies that exempts them from this instinctual response. Perhaps it’s their fluttery demeanor or their vivid coloring, but butterflies are one of the most beloved and familiar insects in the world. And there are quite a lot of them!

There are more than 17,500 recorded butterfly species around the world, 750 of which can be found in the United States. Pictured, we see a blue copper butterfly (Lycaena heteronea), which is characterized by bright blue wings with dark veins.

It would takes years of study to be able to identify every single species, but why not start by familiarizing yourself with a few of the most common butterflies in the Americas? Read more.