How many legs does a butterfly have?

The number of legs a butterfly has is six. Having six legs is a defining feature of all insects. At first glance a butterfly has four legs. Upon closer inspection you will notice a pair of legs at the front that usually remain tucked away.

A butterfly may lose a leg through misfortune but this will not cause the death of the insect. Using the remaining legs a butterfly is able to continue landing and standing.

On the leg of a butterfly there are taste sensors which allow the butterfly to taste what it is standing on. Unlike many animals the tongue is simply a tube for sucking up liquid rather than a taste organ.

To observe the number of legs a butterfly has for yourself it may be easiest to use binoculars or look through a telephoto camera lens. Try to find one of these insects standing on plain colored plant rather than something like a patterned bromeliad plant. With a little patience you will be able to see the tiny limbs with your own eyes.