It's a butterflys life!

[bruce5755]

I was told recently that a butterfly lives for just one day!  Is this true?

[tinkytonks]

i had thought this too, but i have just read that some may only live for three days while others can live for weeks or months, maybe it depends on the breed?

[gen2]

Bruce may be thinking of Mayflies which do only live for a day.

tinytonks is right saying it depends on the species.  The average life of an adult butterfly is one to two weeks.  The shortest I can find is 2 to 4 days for a North American butterfly called the Spring Azure.  On the other hand, butterflies that migrate or hibernate can live 9 months or more.