Common butterfly

The common butterfly is a bug in the that appears in all games to date. It can be found flying around the town or island at varying times of day and year between games. In, , and , it can only spawn near flowers.

Aside from its color, the common butterfly is identical in appearance to the yellow butterfly.

Donating to the museum
As with all bugs and fish in the, the common butterfly can be donated to the museum by talking to Blathers. Below is what he has to say upon donation;

In
When the player is donating it to the museum in, Blathers will say the following:

The common butterfly can be found fluttering around the flowers in the central display in the insect room after donation.

In
When donated to the museum in, Blathers the curator will speak about the common butterfly;

The common butterfly appears in the first room of the insect exhibit, fluttering above the flowers on the right hand side of the room.

In
As with previous games, Blathers treats the common butterfly with general disgust:

After donation, the common butterfly flies around the flower beds in the lower terrace of the insect room.

In
Upon being donated, the butterfly can be found in the first room of the bug exhibit resting on flowers with the other butterflies. The exhibit has this to say about the Common Butterfly:

In
When asked about the bug, Blathers will say the following:

The common butterfly can be found in the butterfly room in the museum.

Real-world information
The small cabbage white, Pieris rapae, also known as the cabbage white, is a common species of butterfly that can be found throughout Europe, Northern Africa and Asia. They are a creamy white and feature two black spots on each wing which darken during the summer months. The caterpillars of the cabbage white, as the name suggests, like to eat cabbages and brussel sprouts, and so therefore are considered a pest by gardeners. The butterflies found in game are all female- only female cabbage whites have two black spots on their wings.

Etymology
Pieries is Latin for 'muse'. The muses were Greek goddesses that inspired the arts. The word rapae is derived from the Latin word for 'turnip', rapa.

Trivia

 * The common butterfly appears on the error screen along with Mr. Resetti.