Whether big and stylized or small and classic, butterfly tattoos are especially popular on the lower back and chest areas because of the odd symmetry and astonishingly interesting and varied wing color. However, this form of tattoo can really be placed anywhere the bearer chooses. For most, these images are an expression of liberty, and there 15 to 20,000 well-known and famous species of this animal to copy into the form of a tattoo.

Some of those are the: Common Jezebel, Xerces Blue, Karner Blue, Spicebush Swallowtail, Painted Lady or Cosmopolite, Green-Veined White, Lange’s Metalmark Butterfly, Plum Judy Common Yellow Swallowtail, Lime Butterfly, Small White and Red Pierrot. Other butterfly tattoos can be based on rare species such as the Ornithoptera genus (more popularly known as birdwings) – the largest of all butterflies, and the endangered Lycaeides Melissa samuelis. Bear in mind that it is important to gain a broad knowledge of various butterflies so that you can choose the body art image that best suits you. This is of course a matter of personal choice.

There is a gulf of difference between butterflies and moths. These two types of animals are often confused with one another and people wrongly assume that butterflies are moths flying in the day time. Designs can be an admixture of both kinds of animals and the result of this will be a more diverse and exciting final product. Furthermore, because butterflies survive by feeding on flower nectar, tattooists tend to depict them flying beside, above or on them.

These designs are relevant to both men and women, and also relate strongly to the spiritual world. The best approach to finding images is to use the vast wealth of the internet with its many specialist websites and search engines that can track down specific images. Alternatively go to your local library and got through their huge range of natural history books. You can also use your imagination and design something a little more unnatural or surreal if you have the ability. Butterflies can be the basis of some great psychedelic and abstract designs given their peculiarly beautiful shape and intriguing habits.