Butterfly

Butterflies are insects that have large, often brightly coloured wings, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The group comprises the superfamilies Hedyloidea and Papilionoidea. The oldest butterfly fossils have been dated to the Paleocene, about 56 million years ago, though they may have originated earlier. There are about 20,000 species of butterflies in the world. They are found in all parts of the world, except for Antarctica. Butterflies go through four stages of life: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult. The caterpillar is the larval stage of the butterfly. It is a worm-like creature that feeds on plants. The pupa is the resting stage of the butterfly. It is encased in a hard shell called a chrysalis. The adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.