Description

Butterflies first evolved from moth ancestors in the Late Cretaceous period, around 100 million years ago, originating in the Americas. They were a diverse group in the Cenozoic era, with the oldest known butterfly fossil dating back to the Palaeocene epoch, about 55 million years ago. Butterflies are symbolic of transformation in many cultures, like Native American traditions, and in ancient Greece, their word, “psyche,” also referred to the soul.

Evolution and Origin

From Moths: Butterflies evolved from nocturnal, herbivorous moth ancestors.

Timing: They first appeared in the Late Cretaceous, around 100 million years ago, diversifying significantly during the Cenozoic era.
Geographic Origin: Studies indicate butterflies originated in North or Central America.
Fossil Record: The oldest known butterfly is Protocoeliades kristenseni from Denmark, dating to about 55 million years ago.

Cultural Significance

Ancient Greece:
The word for butterfly, “psyche,” also meant soul and was the name of the goddess who personified it.

Native American Beliefs:
Butterflies are symbols of hope, transformation, and rebirth in many Native American cultures.
Symbol of Rebirth:
Renaissance scholars also saw the butterfly on coins as representing Psyche, the human soul, and as a symbol of life and immortalit