Butterflies are some of the most easily recognizable insects. Day butterflies have large, colorful wings. Butterflies use their wings to travel long distances while searching for flowers. Butterflies use their long suckers to drink nectar from these flowers. At the same time, the butterfly transports pollen from one flower to another. In other words, butterflies act as pollinators. 

After a butterfly has pollinated a flower, the process of fertilization can take place. In fertilization, the pollen grain of one flower fuses together with the egg cell of another flower, producing a seed.

Because butterflies receive nectar from the flowers they pollinate, and flowers need butterflies to transport their pollen in order to reproduce, their relationship is mutually beneficial.

The picture on the right shows a painted lady butterfly using its sucker to drink nectar from a flower. At the same time, its body has transported small pollen grains from another flower with it. By doing so, the butterfly makes the pollination and fertilization of flowers possible.