Insect IDThe short answer: photograph the butterfly — wings open or closed both work — and identify it with an AI scan. You'll get the species, its host plants, migration habits, and lifecycle in seconds, turning a pretty sighting into an actual discovery.
Butterfly or moth?
- Antennae: butterflies have thin antennae with club-shaped tips; moths have feathery or tapered ones
- Resting posture: butterflies usually fold wings upright; moths spread them flat
- Timing: butterflies fly by day; most (not all) moths fly at night
The famous ones — and their impostors
The monarch is North America's celebrity, but the viceroy mimics it almost perfectly (look for a black line across the hindwing — or let the AI look for you). Swallowtails bring the drama with tailed wings; painted ladies are the world's most widespread butterfly; and giant silk moths like the luna moth reward anyone who checks the porch light in early summer.
Photographing butterflies without scaring them off
- Approach slowly from the side; avoid casting your shadow over them
- Morning is golden — butterflies bask to warm up and sit still longer
- Shoot first from a distance, then step closer for a better frame
- Both the upper wing pattern and the folded underside are identifiable — take whichever you get
How to do it with the Insect ID app
- Snap the butterfly with Insect ID's camera, or import a photo from your library — even older vacation shots work.
- Get the species instantly, with habitat, host plants, and lifecycle facts.
- Ask follow-ups: “What flowers attract this species?” — “Is this the monarch or the viceroy?” — “What does its caterpillar look like?”
- Save every sighting — your history becomes a personal life list of every species you've found.
Free to download — includes 2 free AI identifications every day.
Name every butterfly you see — starting today.
Download on theApp StoreFrequently asked questions
Can the app identify moths as well as butterflies?
Yes — moths, butterflies, and caterpillars are all identifiable from a photo. Night-time porch-light moths photograph surprisingly well against a plain wall.
How do I tell a monarch from a viceroy?
The viceroy has an extra black line crossing its hindwings and is slightly smaller. It's a classic mimic — exactly the kind of subtle difference AI photo identification resolves instantly.
Can I identify a butterfly from a photo I took last year?
Absolutely. Insect ID works with any photo in your library, so you can finally put names on every butterfly picture from past trips.