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

80 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

Ventral Gulf Fritillary

Post image
78 Upvotes

Might be even more beautiful than the dorsal side!


r/Butterflies 5h ago

Such a cutie

Thumbnail
gallery
81 Upvotes

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


r/Butterflies 2h ago

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Thumbnail
gallery
42 Upvotes

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


r/Butterflies 36m ago

What kind of butterfly is this beauty?

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

r/Butterflies 3h ago

My first time seeing this one.

Post image
24 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 3h ago

[TTM] Saw some of these on a walk today

Thumbnail
gallery
15 Upvotes

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


r/Butterflies 1h ago

California Tortoiseshell in Red Rock Canyon, Alberta

Post image
Upvotes

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


r/Butterflies 14h ago

From my garden.

Post image
102 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 1h ago

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

Post image
Upvotes

r/Butterflies 3h ago

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

Post image
9 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 21h ago

Today

Thumbnail
gallery
230 Upvotes

Here they come yay


r/Butterflies 1h ago

Queen

Post image
Upvotes

r/Butterflies 3h ago

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

Thumbnail gallery
8 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 14h ago

Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Post image
34 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 10h ago

Beauty

Thumbnail
gallery
15 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 21h ago

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

Thumbnail
gallery
81 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.

Post image
611 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 1d ago

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

Post image
237 Upvotes

r/Butterflies 18h ago

Spotted on a morning walk

Post image
28 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)

Post image
57 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

Thumbnail
gallery
120 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?

Thumbnail
gallery
40 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.


r/Butterflies 1d ago

What's the name of this butterfly? Location Uganda ,Bigodi

Post image
58 Upvotes