Most species see color thanks to rods and cones inside their eyes (via Science). Most insects only have three kinds of photoreceptors, and humans only have about three cones in charge of color vision — yet we can still see tons of colors, including ridiculous ones like vermilion (bet you looked it up). Weirdly, butterflies — like the common blue bottle — have at least 15, which all respond in different ways to different kinds of light and color.
Humans can see light wavelengths ranging from red to violet, but many other animals — as discussed here — can see ultraviolet light. Butterflies are believed to have one of the most complex visual ranges of any creature and are said to use their powers not only to pick suitable mates but also to find nectar in flowers (via The Atlantic). For mating, butterflies can tell if a potential suitor is healthy by how vibrant their colors are, and for social interaction, butterflies can actually communicate via a secret language with the light that reflects from their wings (via Chicago Botanic Garden). Considering most other animals can't understand it — including their predators — it's pretty exclusive lingo. It is even believed that butterflies can use their color-changing abilities to mimic predators.
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