Eastern and Western species plus periodic colonists from tropical forests to the South all converge in Texas and result in the greatest number of butterflies found in any of the United States. Butterflies are important pollinators, fourth in importance after beetles, flies and bees. Few caterpillars of butterflies are listed as economic pests. Butterflies are as useful in the teaching of natural history as are birds, but unlike birds, they may be studied more closely by collecting. Butterflies are objects of beauty and myth that were appreciated by the Mayans, Aztecs, Greeks and other older cultures.
Butterflies are a source of inspiration to artists and poets.
By 40 million years ago the major family groups of butterflies are found in Eocene rocks. The 70 million year old snout butterflies that flew in the Cretaceous with dinosaurs were very similar to those that swarm in Texas today.