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How to Identify a Butterfly

Butterflies are beautiful insects that attract many people to identify specimens they find in the wild. Hobbyists who take up the study of butterflies are called lepidopterists. With a few notes, mental or written, and a good field guide or reference, you can identify any butterfly specimen. For amateur lepidopterists, online guides provide a good start. Follow these steps to collect the right information about specimens.

Instructions

- 1
  Confirm that your specimen is a butterfly and not a skipper or moth, which are related insect categories. Butterflies tend to have brighter colors. Moths are nocturnal, which usually rules them out easily. Skippers have thick bodies and fold their wings when they land, while butterflies keep their wings extended.
- 2
  Note the coloration of the butterfly. Be as detailed as possible because many butterflies have look-alikes. Scientists divide butterflies into families and you can often determine what family a butterfly belongs to just by knowing the color.
- 3
  Sketch the wing shape and pattern of coloration. Your drawing will serve as a useful reference when you check your field guide later.
- 4
  Jot down a size comparison or estimate to help you identify the specimen later.
- 5
  Browse the online reference Butterflies and Moths of North America to make an educated guess about your specimen's family.
- 6
  Use the range maps of similar looking species to rule out any that are not found in the area.

Insects & Science