Butterfly Quiz – Test What You Know!

Written by Rebecca Bales — Published: February 13, 2023

How to Play:

Pay close attention to the image and captions provided to help you figure out the answer.

Key Points:

Butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis, going through four stages in their life cycle: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult.
Butterflies use their proboscis, a long coiled mouthpart, to feed on nectar from flowers.
The bright colors of butterfly wings are not produced by pigments, but instead are the result of structural coloration, which is created by the microscopic scales on the wings.

Welcome to our Butterfly Quiz! Butterflies are one of the most fascinating and beautiful insects in the world. With their vibrant colors, delicate wings, and graceful flight, they are sure to captivate and delight nature enthusiasts of all ages.

Whether you’re a seasoned lepidopterist or just starting to explore the world of butterflies, this quiz is the perfect way to test your knowledge and learn more about these amazing creatures.

Get ready to see how much you know about these winged wonders!

Close-up of green spotted malachite butterfly. — outdoorsman/Shutterstock.com

A monarch butterfly sitting on orange cosmos flowers in the spring. — CHAINFOTO24/Shutterstock.com

Monarch Butterfly sipping nectar from a flower. The brightly-hued wings of the Monarch Butterfly act as a “warning sign” to deter hungry predators, as these butterflies are poisonous. — rck_953/Shutterstock.com

How many stages are there in the butterfly life cycle?

Butterfly sitting on a dandelion. — KRIACHKO OLEKSII/Shutterstock.com

Which stage of the butterfly life cycle is the butterfly in when it emerges from the chrysalis?

Egg

Larva

Pupa

Adult

Beautiful butterfly sitting on a leaf. — Napalai Studio/Shutterstock.com

What is the average wingspan of a Monarch butterfly?

2-3 inches

4-5 inches

6-7 inches

8-9 inches

Rows of butterfly cocoons and newly hatched butterfly. — Ksenia Ragozina/Shutterstock.com

Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus) on vegetation in northern Illinois. — Jason Patrick Ross/Shutterstock.com

How long does a butterfly typically live?

2 weeks

4 weeks

8 weeks

12 weeks

Beautiful red butterfly isolated on white background — Butterfly Hunter/Shutterstock.com

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What is the average lifespan of a butterfly in the wild?

15-29 days

4 months

6 months

12 months

Five Cool Facts About Butterflies

Butterflies are some of the most interesting and captivating insects in the world, and there’s so much to learn about them!

From their incredible metamorphosis to their fascinating behavior, here are five cool facts about butterflies that you may not know:

Butterflies Have a Complete Metamorphosis: Butterflies go through a four-stage metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to adult. This transformation is truly one of the most remarkable in the insect world.
Butterflies Taste With Their Feet: Butterflies have taste receptors on their feet, which they use to determine whether a plant is suitable for laying eggs on. This helps them to ensure that their offspring will have a good source of food.
Butterflies Navigate Using the Sun: Butterflies are able to navigate using the sun as a compass. They use their ability to sense the position of the sun to fly in a straight line, even over long distances.
Butterflies are Good Pollinators: Butterflies are important pollinators, helping to fertilize flowers as they feed on nectar. In this way, they play a critical role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and supporting the growth of plants.
Butterflies Have Vibrant Colors for a Reason: Butterflies have brightly colored wings for a reason. The colors serve as a warning to predators that the butterfly is unpalatable, or to attract a mate.

Whether you’re a seasoned butterfly enthusiast or just learning about these fascinating insects, these five cool facts are sure to captivate and inspire you.

What color is the wings of a swallowtail butterfly?

Yellow and black

Orange and black

Purple and black

Red and black

A Black Swallowtail Butterfly feeding on Zinnia flowers in the garden. — Melody Mellinger/Shutterstock.com

Owl butterflies have an eye-like pattern on their wings. — Roberto Dantoni/Shutterstock.com

What type of food do butterflies eat?

Fruits

Nectar

Mushrooms

Insects

Mourning Cloak butterflies boast a stunning combination of colors and patterns. — iStock.com/Anatoliy Berislavskiy

Like most butterflies, fritillary butterflies are notoriously picky eaters. — KRITPHOTO/Shutterstock.com

Butterfly bushes are tough plants that survive under a wide variety of conditions. — iStock.com/EstuaryPig

What is the average size of a butterfly?

1/2 – 1 inch

1 – 2 inches

2 – 3 inches

3 – 4 inches

Different Species of Butterflies

Butterflies are a diverse and widespread group of insects, with an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 species found throughout the world. Each species is unique, with its own distinctive pattern, color, and behavior.

Here are just a few examples of the many different species of butterflies that can be found:

Monarch Butterfly: The monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable species, known for its bright orange and black wings. They are famous for their incredible migration, traveling thousands of miles each year from the United States and Canada to Mexico.
Swallowtail Butterfly: Swallowtail butterflies are named for their distinctive tails, which resemble the tails of swallows. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, from bright yellows and greens to deep blues and purples.
Painted Lady Butterfly: The painted lady butterfly is a migratory species that can be found throughout the world. It is known for its vibrant orange and black wings, and its ability to adapt to a wide range of habitats.
Morpho Butterfly: Morpho butterflies are known for their bright blue iridescent wings, which shimmer in the sunlight. They are found in the tropical forests of South and Central America, where they feed on nectar from flowering plants.
Peacock Butterfly: The peacock butterfly is named for its distinctive eye spots, which resemble the eyes of a peacock. These eye spots help to deter predators, as they make the butterfly appear larger and more threatening than it actually is.

These five species are just a few examples of the incredible diversity of butterflies that can be found throughout the world.

One of the largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterfly can also be poisonous. — iStock.com/Cathie Moog

What type of senses do butterflies have?

Sight and smell

Sight and hearing

Smell and touch

Touch and hearing

The common Indian crow butterfly expels a toxic liquid that causes its predators to vomit. — iStock.com/MANORANJAN MISHRA

How many species of butterflies are there?

1,000

5,000

10,000

18,000

The atala butterfly is able to metabolize the toxic cycad plant, though its predators cannot. — iStock.com/passion4nature

Butterfly Life Cycle — sezer66/Shutterstock.com

What is the average speed of a butterfly in flight?

5-12 mph

20 mph

30 mph

40 mph

Among other plants, the queen butterfly feeds on poisonous milkweed. — iStock.com/rodsnyder

How Many Eyes Do Butterflies Have — KRIACHKO OLEKSII/Shutterstock.com

How long does it take for a butterfly to hatch from its egg?

2 days

4 days

6 days

8 days

Appearance and Characteristics

Butterflies are well known for their bright and colorful wings, but there’s much more to these insects than just their appearance. Here’s a closer look at some of the key features and characteristics of butterflies:

Wings: Butterflies have two pairs of wings that are covered in tiny scales. These scales give the wings their color and texture, and also help to protect the delicate inner structures of the wings.
Antennae: Butterflies have long, slender antennae on their heads. These antennae are used for a variety of purposes, including navigation, communication, and sensing the environment.
Body: Butterflies have a long, narrow body that is divided into three segments: the head, thorax, and abdomen. The thorax is where the wings and legs are attached, while the abdomen contains the digestive and reproductive systems.
Legs: Butterflies have six slender legs, which are used for walking and perching. The legs are covered in tiny sensory hairs that help the butterfly to detect changes in its environment.
Mouthparts: Butterflies have long, coiled mouthparts called a proboscis, which they use to feed on nectar from flowers. The proboscis is also used to collect nectar, which is then stored in the butterfly’s stomach.
Colors: Butterflies are known for their vibrant and colorful wings, which can range from bright yellows and greens to deep blues and purples. These colors help butterflies to attract mates, deter predators, and regulate their body temperature.

Whether you’re admiring a butterfly in the garden or studying them up close, there’s always something new to discover about these fascinating insects.