1. Some suck blood

Many butterflies perform a behavior called mud-puddling (as shown above) where they seek out a moist substances so they can suck up the fluid to get nutrients. One type of species, Calyptra, suck blood from sleeping vertebrates, including humans.

2. In better shape than you'll ever be

Every year, the monarch butterfly migrate from Eastern North America to Mexico. They fly 50-100 miles a day, and they do this until they reach their destination up to 3,000 miles away. So basically, butterflies are in better shape than you’ll ever be.

3. Basically tiny dragons

A butterfly's wing is covered in little colored scales that help soak up heat since they

are cold-blooded. Scales, cold blooded, and flies: tiny dragon.

4. Ants are a butterfly's childhood best friend

Ants and caterpillars have a relationship that scientists call mutualism. The ant provides protection in exchange for the sugar syrup the caterpillar excretes. So it’s common to see the two hanging out with one another.

5. Skips the awkward puberty stage

Butterflies normally stay in their chrysalis for less than 30 days, but they can stay for a long as a year. Really it’s just as long as it takes for the ugly caterpillar to change into a beautiful butterfly.

6. They protect their turf

Some of those gentle looking creatures are actually very territorial with a territory spanning up to 17 meters. The bigger the territory, the better chance the butterfly has to find a mate.

7. Flies with a damaged wing

A butterfly is so hardcore that if one of their wings is damaged, they just grit through the pain and keep on flying. The forewings keep the butterfly afloat while the hindwings assist with maneuverability, so as long as the forewing is intact, a butterfly can still fly.

8. Extreme color vision

A butterfly’s eye is estimated to have at least 15 different types of photoreceptors in their eyes. Humans have three: red, blue, and green. Their world is much more colorful than ours by far.

9. Flew with dinosaurs

Fossils have been discovered that date the butterfly back to the Jurassic period. They probably hung out with Littlefoot and his crowd.

10. Don't have lungs

No lungs nor nose, but butterflies breath through this tiny hole called spiracles which are along their external skeletons.

11. Group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope

Isn’t that just adorable? Sometimes a group of butterflies is called a swarm. Also, a group of caterpillars are called an army.

12. Taster with their feet

Yeah, they don’t have mouths so the next logical place to put taste buds seemed to be their feet. They’re actually really helpful for the butterfly to determine where to lay their eggs.