How many legs do butterflies have?

Butterflies belong to the class Insecta, which characteristically have six legs. This anatomical feature is a defining trait of insects, setting them apart from other arthropods like arachnids, which have eight legs. Each of the three pairs of legs in butterflies is adapted for various functions, such as walking and clinging to surfaces. Understanding the basic structure of insects, including their leg count, is fundamental in the study of entomology and can help differentiate between types of arthropods.