The name refers to the tiny scales covering the adult insect's wings. Their wings are used in flight and in various behaviors associated with their life history, such as searching for specific hosts for egg laying and searching for flowers with nectar for adult feeding. Cryptic coloration typical to moths lets them blend into their surroundings, lessening exposure to predators. Butterflies account for only eight percent of the lepidopteran insect species. Moths are far more common, accounting for ninety-two percent of lepidopteran species.
Butterflies visit plants for several reasons.
First, butterflies need nectar to provide energy for flying and reproduction. It is in the process of drinking nectar that they pollinate plants. In fact, the evolution of flowers is considered to be a result of a mutualism between pollinators and plants. Plants provide nectar in flowers and butterflies transport pollen to ensure reproduction with unrelated individuals. Insect feeding results in pollen transportation and is more reliable than the alternative form of pollen transport, wind.