Butterflies are some of North Carolina’s most beautiful wild creatures. Explore the various types of butterflies found throughout the state of North Carolina with this guide.
Introducing the Butterflies
What Are Butterflies?
Butterflies are colorful insects that have four wings covered in tiny, powdery scales. Their wings are large, broad, and look something like sails. Butterflies fly extremely well; some species, such as the Monarch Butterfly, migrate many thousands of miles.
as their broad wings catcsail-likeThey go through a special process called metamorphosis, which means they change their body in four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly.
Butterflies start as eggs laid on plants. Most butterfly species prefer only certain types of plants for their eggs, which are called “host plants”. Butterfly eggs vary in size, shape, and color, depending on the species.
Butterfly eggs hatch into caterpillars, which are the baby butterflies and the larval form of these insects. Caterpillars are long, soft-bodied, cylindrical creatures with three pairs of short, legs and chewing mouth parts. Butterfly caterpillars vary drastically in appearance, depending on the species. Some butterfly caterpillars are smooth-skinned and inconspicuous, while others are large, colorful, and covered with spines.
Caterpillars are eating machines. They chomp through their host plants’ leaves and grow bigger and heavier over time. After they reach a certain size and level of development, the caterpillars pupate by sealing themselves inside a tough case called a “chrysalis”. Inside the chrysalis, a caterpillar’s body transforms completely from its caterpillar form, into its adult, butterfly form. It grows wings, antennae, three pairs of long, jointed legs, and compound eyes. When the transformation completes, the butterfly breaks out of they chrysalis, dries its wings, and flies off.
Butterflies help plants grow by spreading pollen, which is a way for plants to reproduce. They are also beautiful to look at and can be found in gardens, forests, and fields. There are thousands of different species of butterflies, each with its own colors and patterns.
With the exception of some species of butterfly caterpillars that cause a lot of damage to human crops, butterflies are entirely harmless insects, which makes their beauty all the more pleasant. They also feed many other animals in nature, especially birds.
North Carolina Butterflies By Name
Click below to discover the beautiful and varied butterflies that liven up North Carolina’s hot, humid summer days.
To see the full list of every animal included in Now I Wonder, please visit the Index Page.
Don’t forget to check out my Blog, for lots of fun facts and posts about how these animals live and behave.
Black Butterflies Of North Carolina
Black butterflies add a touch of mystery and elegance to North Carolina’s diverse butterfly population. This guide introduces you to the species you can find across the state. Learn about the different species of black butterflies, their unique behaviors, and where to observe them in the wild.
Blue Butterflies Of North Carolina
Blue butterflies bring vibrant color and true beauty to North Carolina’s diverse butterfly population. This guide introduces you to the species you can find across the state. Learn about the different species of blue butterflies, their unique behaviors, and how to identify them.
- Common Checkered Skipper Butterfly (Pyrgus communis)
- Eastern Tailed-blue Butterfly (Everes comyntas)
- Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly (Battus philenor)
- Red-spotted Purple Butterfly (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)
Brown Butterflies Of North Carolina
Brown butterflies add warm, natural beauty to North Carolina’s diverse butterfly population. This guide introduces you to the species you can find across the state. Learn about the different species of brown butterflies, their unique behaviors, and how to identify them.
Orange North Carolina Butterflies
Orange butterflies add a touch of warmth and vibrancy to North Carolina’s diverse butterfly population. This guide introduces you to the species you can find across the state. Learn about the different species of orange butterflies, their unique behaviors, and how to identify them.
- American Lady Butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis)
- Gulf Fritillary Butterfly (Dione vanillae)
- Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
- Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
- Pearl Crescent Butterfly (Phyciodes tharos)
- Sleepy Orange Butterfly (Eurema nicippe)
- Variegated Fritillary Butterfly (Euptoieta claudia)
White North Carolina Butterflies
White butterflies add a touch of peaceful beauty to North Carolina’s diverse butterfly population. This guide introduces you to the species you can find across the state. Learn about the different species of white butterflies, their unique behaviors, and how to identify them.
Yellow North Carolina Butterflies
Yellow butterflies add a touch of cheerful color to North Carolina’s diverse butterfly population. This guide introduces you to the species you can find across the state. Learn about the different species of yellow butterflies, their unique behaviors, and how to identify them.
Where To Go From Here
As beautiful as butterflies are to us, their many predators view them as merely tasty little nuggets of protein, fat, and nutrients. For more information, check out this Now I Wonder post: What Do Dragonflies Eat? A Guide To Their Feeding Ways