Butterflies and moths are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. They indicate a wide range of other invertebrates, which comprise over two-thirds of all species. Areas rich in butterflies and moths are rich in other invertebrates. These collectively provide a wide range of environmental benefits, including pollination and natural pest control.

Butterflies are an important element of the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals. Butterflies and moths support a range of other predators and parasites, many of which are specific to individual species, or groups of species.

Butterflies have been widely used by ecologists as model organisms to study the impact of habitat loss and fragmentation, and climate change.