Introduction
Yes — let’s find out how well you really know butterfly species. I made this quiz to help you spot common butterflies, learn a few surprising facts, and get better at reading wing patterns like a tiny naturalist detective.
About the Quiz
This short, 10-question quiz mixes easy ID questions with a few trickier bits about behavior, caterpillar host plants, and migration. I’ll teach one fun fact after each question so you walk away smarter (and more likely to point out a Blue Morpho next time you’re at a butterfly house).
If you want to read up before or after, check these posts: How Big Do Butterflies Get? and How to Help Butterflies. I also love thinking about butterfly naps — see Do Butterflies Sleep?.
Instructions
- Answer each multiple-choice question — no pressure!
- You’ll see a short explanation after each question so you learn as you go.
- Score 70% or higher to pass — bragging rights and a virtual butterfly badge included.
Ready? Let’s go — and remember: the more you watch, the more the small details start to mean something magical.
How Well Do You Know Butterfly Species?
Test your knowledge of common and curious butterfly species — ID, behavior, host plants, and migration facts.
Which butterfly is famous for its orange-and-black wings and long migration across North America?
The Monarch is the iconic migrator — some populations travel thousands of miles and the migration spans multiple generations.
Monarch caterpillars feed almost exclusively on which plant family?
Monarch caterpillars eat milkweed, which contains compounds that make the caterpillars (and adult butterflies) distasteful to predators.
Which species is known as one of the largest butterflies by wingspan?
Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing (found in New Guinea) can have one of the largest wingspans of any butterfly — truly a rainforest giant.
Which butterfly famously displays large eyespot markings to startle predators?
Peacock butterflies have dramatic eyespots that can startle or misdirect birds, giving the butterfly a chance to escape.
Which species is a classic example of Batesian mimicry, resembling the toxic Monarch?
The Viceroy looks a lot like the Monarch; for a long time it was thought to be Batesian mimicry, though some studies suggest it may be more complex (possible mutual mimicry).
Which small butterfly is famous for its transparent wings?
The Glasswing’s wings are partly transparent, allowing it to blend into backgrounds — a neat camouflage trick.
Which species performs huge multi-generational migrations and shows up on multiple continents?
The Painted Lady undertakes impressive migrations and can appear in massive numbers across continents in favorable years.
Which butterfly family contains many of the familiar colorful species, including the monarch and admirals?
Nymphalidae is a large family that includes many well-known butterflies like monarchs, admirals, and fritillaries.
Which rainforest butterfly is famous for brilliant, iridescent blue upper wings?
Blue Morphos have brilliant structural blue on their upper wings — the color comes from microscopic scales, not pigment.
Which caterpillar is known to feed on citrus trees and is sometimes called an agricultural pest?
The Giant Swallowtail’s caterpillar feeds on plants in the citrus family (Rutaceae) and can be found on backyard citrus trees.