Lore:Butterfly

A monarch butterfly

Butterfliesare diurnal insects with colorful wings. Their larvae are known ascaterpillars.^[1]Nets are sometimes used to catch them.^[2]Migratory monarch butterflies are a common sight across all of southern Tamriel, and are seen in the northern provinces during summer. In contrast to theAncestor Moth,which represents the past, monarch butterflies are said to represent the souls of the present.^[3]Blue butterflies are common in Skyrim.^[4]Butterflies are often associated withSheogorath,and serve as a sign of his influence.^[5]The buildings of hisShivering Islesare essentially sentient as they are actually made out of butterflies.^[6]^[7]Pyandoneanswallowtails once swept through and sung in theImperial Palace.^[8]

The Argonians of Black Marsh are known to eat butterflies. Live butterflies are served in a woven tray with a netted lid (referred to as "ajum" ). They are best served with the wings intact, though many outsiders that try butterflies opt to remove the wings before consumption. The art of Iuheeez ( "wing folding" ) is a culinary practice wherein Argonian chefs use their claws to bend and fold a live butterfly's wings into tiny, edible sculptures. Green Slipper-Tails are described as the sweetest species of slipper-tail butterflies, and taste like honey-grass with a sweet but chalky finish.^[1]

Azura's cult ofLepidopteranswas known for their butterfly-themed masks.^[9]