Butterflies

This site contains information on hundreds of species of butterflies living in North America, including distribution maps, regional species checklists, species accounts, and full-sized and thumbnail photos of adults and larvae.

This article has beautiful images and 5 fun facts about butterflies, including the fact that there are about 165,000 species of butterflies.

This animal fact sheet from Canadian Geographic provides basic information on the monarch butterfly, including fast facts, physiology, habits/behaviour and range.

Learn about some colourful (and some plain, brown) butterflies and moths. Click on the name of the butterfly or moth to get a pop-up of information about that particular species.

The main purpose of a caterpillar is to eat as much as possible, storing up energy for its transformation into its adult shape. Explore this animated and interactive image of a caterpillar body. Click on the blinking dots to get more information.

These four images show the ways that caterpillars defend themselves. Click on the 'Show text' link below the images to have each defense mechanism explained.

Hinterland's Who's Who provides a description of the monarch butterfly on this page. Be sure to check out all of the information linked on the tabs (Description, Habitat and Habits, Range, Feeding, Breeding, Conservation) and view the video clips.

This ebook explores the life of a monarch butterfly, including her birth in Canada, her transformation and her journey to Mexico for the winter. Students can click on the speaker icon to hear the story read aloud.

The San Diego Zoo has created a colourful guide to butterflies. The guide has several photos of butterflies as well as basic facts.

This profile of monarch butterflies includes information about where they live, what they eat, life cycle, threats and solutions for saving this butterfly.