Is this some kind of butterfly?

Answer

Dear Maggie,

The photo is very unclear, and unfortunately I can’t see the structure of the antennas very well (are the antennas short, widened towards the top, and bent outwards?), but based on shape and wing pattern I’m pretty sure that it is an ant lion and not a butterfly.

Ant lions belong to the order Neuroptera (reticulates) and the family Myrmeleonidae. Based on the spots in the wing I suspect that it is the spotted ant lion Euroleon nostros.

The larvae of ant lions are formidable hunters that capture their prey (ants and other small insects) using a trap they have dug themselves, usually in sandy soils.

kind regards,

Hans