What is the lifespan of a butterfly?

Some butterflies may only live a few days and others close to a year. The amount of time butterflies live is based on their species, according to Butterflies and Moths of North America.

The monarch butterfly, for example, can live for up to nine months. The monarchs hatch in the fall and then migrate to the southern part of the country and Mexico where they complete their lives. Other butterfly species that are born in the fall hibernate over the wintertime to survive. Arctic butterflies may live up to two years. On an average, adult female butterflies of most species live about two weeks, with males living for slightly less time.