Butterflies
Butterflies might be the most conspicuous invertebrate group of animals in the world, with at least 17,500 species on the planet, and at least 750 in the United States. At least 100 or more of these in the United States are strays from adjacent Mexico, as there are many more butterfly species in tropical regions. Together with moths, the butterflies comprise the Order Lepidoptera within the Class Insecta; as one might expect, moths comprise about 90% of the order.
Butterflies are diurnal and often rather large insects, and as they often move into gardens to feed on nectar from flowers, they are certainly a popular group for observation and study. Many people plant caterpillar food plants and/or adult nectar plants in their yards and gardens.
In North Carolina, nearly 180 species of butterflies have been reported, the number of which varies almost annually owing to taxonomic lumps and splits of species. Most of these species breed in the state and are mostly non-migratory. However, several dozen of the total number are only visitors, usually moving north from Florida or other Southern states in late summer and fall, with these numbers greatly varying from one year to another.
The Butterflies of North Carolina website, which has been in operation for nearly 30 years, provides species accounts for each species, with county range maps, flight charts of adults (one for each of the three provinces), high counts, and early and late dates. Accounts also contain a handful of photos taken in North Carolina, and the data for each county can be obtained from the website, as can a complete checklist of all species in the state.