1. Butterflies (Rhopalocera) are insects that have large, frequently vividly coloured wings and prominent, fluttering flight patterns.
2. The superfamilies Hedyloidea (moth-butterflies in the Americas) and Papilionoidea make up the group. 
3. Around 56 million years ago, during the Paleocene, butterflies first appeared.
4. Butterflies go through a full metamorphosis, like other insects, and have a four-stage life cycle.
5. Winged adults lay their eggs on the food plant that their caterpillar-like larvae will consume.
6. The caterpillars mature, sometimes very quickly, then pupate in chrysalises once completely grown.
7. After transformation is complete, the adult insect crawls out of the pupal skin and dries its wings before taking flight.
8. Some butterflies, especially those that live in tropical climates, have multiple generations every year, while others only have one. Some butterflies that live in frigid climates may take several years to complete their whole life cycle.