Graphic of butterflies flying over meadow

Wisconsin Native Butterflies

Many thanks to: Wisconsin Butterflies

Wisconsin Native Butterflies provides a comprehensive resource on native butterflies. The catalog includes detailed profiles, information on the preferred habitat, breeding strategy and image.

  Butterflies and Pollination

Butterflies play an important role in pollinating flowers, particularly flowers that have a strong scent, are red or yellow in color and produce a large amount of nectar. The importance of butterfly pollination to plant reproduction may not be equal to that of honeybees but several plant species, like milkweed and other wildflowers, depend on butterflies to transfer their pollen.

  Butterflies Signal Ecosystem Health

An abundance of butterflies is often an indication that an ecosystem is thriving. This is due to the fact that butterflies are an important component of a food chain, as predators and prey. Adult butterflies and caterpillars are an important source of food for other animals such as bats and birds.

  Search Butterfly Groups

Find A Butterfly

There are 2 ways to find a butterfly — enter the all or part of the butterfly name in the search box in the right side of the screen or, refine your search by selecting the butterfly 'group' from the drop-down list on the left!

Search For Butterfly Articles


Search Butterflies

Enter all or part of the butterly name in the search box.

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Butterfly Eggs

Butterfly Life Cycle

While butterflies do not care for their young after hatching, they do lay their eggs on the appropriate host plant, which will be food for the newly hatched caterpillars. Learn about the secret life of butterfly eggs.

Graphic of butterfly caterpillar

Butterfly Caterpillar

Butterfly Life Cycle

Caterpillars are among our most unusual looking wildlife, well-known for their spectacular transformation into butterflies. But how much do you know about these curious creature?

Graphic of butterfly chrysalis

Butterfly Chrysalis

Butterfly Life Cycle

The transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly takes place in the chrysalis or pupa. Inside the chrysalis, several things are happening and it is not a “resting” stage. Find out what's really happening.

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