Butterflies

There are approximately 750 species of butterflies in the United States, while Michigan is home to over 150 of these species. Butterflies come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Known for their beautiful wings and dainty flight, butterflies are one of the most well-known insects. Maybe lesser known is their contribution to ecological health, biodiversity, and pollination. A module about butterflies can be found on the Pollinator Champions course as well. Learn more about butterflies, their unique environmental contributions, and how to support them using the resources on this page.  

Butterfly basics

All about butterflies from Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory discusses butterfly basics, including their habitats, anatomy, and what differentiates them from moths.  

Learn about the butterfly life cycle from The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.  

Curious how do butterflies pollinate flowers? Read butterfly pollination.  

Frequently asked questions about butterflies and moths from the Florida Museum.  

Learn about the Butterflies of the Midwest from the Urban Ecology Center. 

 

Habitat tips and instructions

Creating a butterfly garden can help create a haven for butterflies to thrive in your area. It is important to ensure that the plants you provide are native species that butterflies and other pollinators depend on. Learn the butterfly gardening basics for success in your own butterfly garden. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources provides additional information for sustaining butterflies with habitats at home. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services have lists of the top plants for your pollinator garden. MSU’s Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens also offer a list of butterfly plants.  

Schoolyard habitats are also a great way to support butterflies and pollinators while teaching children about them and their importance. The National Wildlife Federation provides tips to create a schoolyard habitat for Monarchs and other pollinators. 

 

Why are butterflies important? 

Read about the various ways butterflies provide value to their environment and the world:  

• Why care about butterflies, Xerces Society
• An overview on butterflies significance, International Journal of Entomology Research
• Butterflies and their contribution in ecosystem: A review, Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
• Monarch butterflies bring together conservation and culture between U.S. and Mexico, The Nature Conservancy 

 

Threats to butterflies

Butterflies, like other pollinators, face many threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, pesticide exposure, invasive species, and climate change. These threats compound on one another, making the stress even greater. Even for species that are adaptable, the stressors may still have significant impacts on their health and populations. 

Drivers of declines in butterfly populations, Xerces Society  

Threats, Monarch Joint Venture – details the many threats and stressors monarchs and other butterflies face 

Studies on butterfly threats and stressors: 

• Study raises the possibility of a country without butterflies, MSU Today. Study by C. Edwards et al., in partnership with MSU researchers
• Rising carbon dioxide levels pose a previously unrecognized threat to monarch butterflies University of Michigan News. Study by L. Decker, University of Michigan.
• Global hotspots of butterfly diversity are threatened in a warming world | Nature Ecology & Evolution Nature Ecology and Evolution. Study by S. Pinkert et al., University of Marburg
• Insecticides found to be primary driver of butterfly decline - Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics MSU CANR. Study by B. Van Deynze, in partnership with MSU researchers

Learn ways you can support native pollinators, including butterflies, in your area.  

 

Rare butterflies of Michigan

Learn about rare butterflies in Michigan and how you can support them.  

 

Learn more from butterfly organizations

North American Butterfly Association (NABA)

Michigan Butterfly Network - Kalamazoo Nature Center

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

 

Additional resources

Michigan butterflies & skippers: A field guide and reference, Mogens C. Nielsen, MSU Extension 

Butterfly, moth, and skipper identification, a resource to help identify butterflies and moths in North America 

Support Monarchs, MSU Extension

Pollinator conservation biocontrol: Butterflies, University of Minnesota

State of the butterflies in the United States: A roadmap for butterfly conservation in the 21st century, Xerces Society