How Many Wings Does a Butterfly Really Have?

A butterfly has four wings: two forewings at the front and two hindwings at the back. They beat together in flight, which is why many people think there are only two.

The answer is four. A butterfly has a front pair and a back pair of wings, four in total.

The front and back wings overlap and beat in sync during flight, so from a distance the four wings can look like a single pair.