Did You Know Butterflies Are Legally Blind?

Butterfly Vision

As you can see, what butterflies and most insects see is something that is less sharp than humans can see. This is why we say that by human standards, they are legally blind. Butterflies can also see some colors humans cannot.

human vs insect

The world looks different to a butterfly. What they see is different than what humans see. (illustration by Michael Hagelberg)

Visit our page on the colors animals see to learn more about color vision in animals.


Additional images provided by Challiyil Eswaramangalath Vipin from Wikimedia Commons.

View Citation

You may need to edit author's name to meet the style formats, which are in most cases "Last name, First name."

Bibliographic details:

  • Article: What Butterflies See
  • Author(s): Kasey Yturralde
  • Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
  • Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
  • Date published: January 8, 2010
  • Date accessed: March 24, 2024
  • Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/butterfly-vision

APA Style

Kasey Yturralde. (2010, January 08). What Butterflies See. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved March 24, 2024 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/butterfly-vision

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Kasey Yturralde. "What Butterflies See". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 08 January, 2010. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/butterfly-vision

MLA 2017 Style

Kasey Yturralde. "What Butterflies See". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 08 Jan 2010. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 24 Mar 2024. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/butterfly-vision

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/

Could butterfly vision and their amazing patterns and colors be related?

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