Which butterfly family includes monarchs, admirals, and painted ladies?

Nymphalidae is the butterfly family that includes monarchs, admirals, and painted ladies.

Nymphalidae is commonly called the brush-footed butterfly family. Its members typically have reduced front legs that are held close to the body, although the exact appearance and function vary among subfamilies. The family is one of the largest butterfly families and includes a great diversity of colors, sizes, and lifestyles.

Well-known nymphalids include monarchs, red admirals, painted ladies, peacock butterflies, fritillaries, and tortoiseshells. Their caterpillars may use plants from many unrelated groups, while adults commonly drink flower nectar, tree sap, or juices from rotting fruit.

Family names can be confusing because common names do not always reveal relationships. For example, a monarch is not a swallowtail, even though both are large, conspicuous butterflies. Scientific classification is based on shared evolutionary relationships rather than appearance alone.