As an expert in the field of entomology, I can tell you that butterflies, like many insects, are attracted to certain colors due to their innate preferences and the way they perceive the world around them. Butterflies have compound eyes that can see a wider spectrum of light than humans, including ultraviolet (UV) light. This means that they may be attracted to colors that are not particularly vivid to us, but appear bright and attractive to them.

Red is often cited as a favorite color for butterflies, and it is true that many species are attracted to red flowers. However, it's not the color red as humans perceive it, but rather the UV patterns that are often invisible to us but can be seen by butterflies.
Purple and orange are also colors that can be attractive to butterflies, again due to the UV patterns that they may contain.

It's important to note that while some generalizations can be made, individual species of butterflies may have specific preferences. For example, the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is known to be particularly attracted to flowers in the milkweed family, which often have bright colors and UV patterns.

In summary, while it's common to say that butterflies like red, purple, and orange, it's more accurate to say that they are attracted to the UV patterns and reflective properties of certain flowers, which can include a variety of colors.

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Plant type and color is important - Adult butterflies are attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple blossoms that are flat-topped or clustered and have short flower tubes. Plant good nectar sources in the sun - Your key butterfly nectar source plants should receive full sun from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.read more >>