For example, in Asian cultures, butterflies have come to mean long life or love. In Christianity, the change of the caterpillar into a butterfly symbolizes the resurrection when the caterpillar “dies” and the butterfly is “reborn” in a different body. All butterfly species are classified by the family they belong to. Butterflies in some groups have common identifying features. The main families of butterflies are as follows:

Butterflies in the Lycaenidae family contain small species of brightly-colored butterflies and there are also around 6,000 different species. Butterflies fluttering around gardens are synonymous with warm summer days. However, some people attach special symbolism or meaning to butterflies. The Nymphalidae family has around 6,000 species of butterflies and include monarchs, admirals, emperors, and tortoiseshells. Butterflies are one of the most graceful and beautiful types of flying insects you will find in your garden. All types of butterflies are beneficial insects because they pollinate flowers and feed on common garden pests. Most people are familiar with the monarch butterfly. However, there are some 18,500 species of butterflies in the world that come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. From the many thousands of butterfly species in the world, about 700 are native to North America.In this article, you will learn how to identify the many types of butterflies that are commonly found in woodlands and summer gardens. What do Butterflies Symbolize? Although some types of caterpillars sting, butterflies are completely harmless and don’t bite or sting people. This means that it’s fine to gently handle butterflies to identify them without fear of being stung. Riodinidae is a group of butterflies with interesting metallic colors on their wings. They are also called metalmark butterflies. Types of Butterflies With Pictures and Names

Like all other insects, butterflies have six legs and three main body parts: head, thorax (chest or mid section) and abdomen (tail end). Butterflies also have two long antennae on their heads and they also have an exoskeleton. The length of time butterflies live depends on their species and activity. Some butterfly species can live for many months and migrate huge distances. Other types of butterflies may only live for a few weeks.Most butterflies have thin slender antennae while moths often have feathery shorter antennae Main Families of Butterflies