Butterflies aren't just colorful decorations fluttering around flowers. They are one of the most diverse groups of insects, with more than 17,000 known species.

Butterfly species live on every continent except Antarctica and play a crucial role in ecosystems as pollinators, prey, and indicators of environmental health.

From the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica to the meadows of California, many butterflies dazzle us with their patterns, behaviors and survival strategies. These insects come in many shapes, colors and sizes, and they feed, fly and even mate in dramatically different ways.

1. Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

The monarch might be the most famous butterfly. Native to North America, it completes a long-distance butterfly migration every year, flying up to 3,000 miles (4,800 k

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