A butterfly is an insect of the order Lepidoptera.
Like all Lepidoptera, butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a larval caterpillar stage, an inactive pupal stage, and a spectacular metamorphosis into a familiar and colourful winged adult form. About 160.000 different species of butterfly have been identified.
The butterflies depicted in the Crystal are monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus)