There are approximately 28,000 species of butterflies. There are more than 3,700 species of butterflies in Peru alone, earning it the nickname "Land of Butterflies".

People who study or collect butterflies are called lepidopterists because butterflies are of the insect order Lepidoptera.

Like all other insects, butterflies have six legs.

The Brimstone butterfly (Gonepterix rhamni) can live up to 11 months, giving it the longest lifespan of any known species of butterfly.

The largest butterfly in the world is the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera alexandrae), from the island of New Guinea, which can reach a wingspan of up to 12 1/2 inches (32 centimeters). The male is significantly smaller than the female.

Unlike many other insects, butterflies do not go through a nymph stage. Instead, they undergo a pupal stage during which they transform from caterpillar to butterfly. The four stages in the lifecycle of the butterfly are: 1) Egg, 2) Larva (caterpillar), 3) Pupa (chrysalis), 4) Imago (butterfly).

Butterflies have four wings -- two forewings and two hindwings -- covered with tiny, flat, overlapping scales. Some of these scales contain pigment, giving butterflies their beautiful colors.

Butterflies taste with their feet. They don't have mouths that allow them to bite or chew, instead they have a long straw-like structure called a proboscis which they use to drink nectar. But the proboscis doesn't have any taste sensors. A butterfly's taste sensors are located on the bottom of its feet. By standing on a leaf, the butterfly can taste it to see if it will be good food for her caterpillars.

If its body temperature is less than 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius), a butterfly will not be able to fly. If necessary, butterflies can absorb more heat by basking in the sun.

With a wingspan of only 3/8 of an inch (1.5 cm), the Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis) is the smallest butterfly in the world.