Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 21 species of butterfly are listed as endangered, which means they are in danger of extinction within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range. Two species of butterflies are listed as threatened, meaning they are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
136 butterfly species are listed on the IUCN red list, ranging in status from least concern, vulnerable, endangered, extinct in the wild, to extinct.