We’ve explored the world of snails, now it’s time to take to the skies on papery wings with another tiny denizen of the macro photography world: the butterfly.

Feather-light and elaborately decorated, butterflies are some of the most beautiful creatures on our planet, and photographers have been capturing this beauty in beautiful bokeh-filled glory since 500px first launched more than half a decade ago.

Below are 50 of the most stunning images you’ve captured over the past almost 6 years… may your shutter finger never stop itching:

Photograph Impossible love... by Wil Mijer on 500px

Impossible love… by Wil Mijer on 500px

Photograph Light rider by waugh on 500px

Light rider by waugh on 500px

Photograph The Pit Bull and the Butterfly by Chronic Rain on 500px

The Pit Bull and the Butterfly by Chronic Rain on 500px

Photograph Clear Butterfly - Costa Rica by Benjamin Nocke on 500px

Clear Butterfly – Costa Rica by Benjamin Nocke on 500px

Photograph I found a Friend !! by Guru charan on 500px

I found a Friend !! by Guru charan on 500px

Photograph Swallowtail by Fabio Giarrizzo on 500px

Swallowtail by Fabio Giarrizzo on 500px

Photograph Azuré by Lamirgue Guillaume on 500px

Azuré by Lamirgue Guillaume on 500px

Photograph urdintxu by gorka orexa on 500px

urdintxu by gorka orexa on 500px

Photograph ~Nature: Art of God~ by Mohan Duwal on 500px

~Nature: Art of God~ by Mohan Duwal on 500px

Photograph Small Friends by Anna Karin Pålsson on 500px

Small Friends by Anna Karin Pålsson on 500px

Photograph "Happiness" by Wil Mijer on 500px

"Happiness" by Wil Mijer on 500px

Photograph Malachite (Siproeta stelenes) by Mustafa Öztürk on 500px

Malachite (Siproeta stelenes) by Mustafa Öztürk on 500px

Photograph Spread your wings by Giacomo Checchi on 500px

Spread your wings by Giacomo Checchi on 500px

Photograph I love the spring! by Magda Wasiczek on 500px

I love the spring! by Magda Wasiczek on 500px

Photograph Butterfly by Alessandro Serresi on 500px

Butterfly by Alessandro Serresi on 500px

Photograph Butterfly by Philippe PONSIN on 500px

Butterfly by Philippe PONSIN on 500px

Photograph I'll keep an EYE on you. by Taeki M on 500px

I'll keep an EYE on you. by Taeki M on 500px

Photograph Airport by Mustafa Öztürk on 500px

Airport by Mustafa Öztürk on 500px

Photograph Transparency by Carlos M. Almagro on 500px

Transparency by Carlos M. Almagro on 500px

Photograph freedom by Alonk's Roby on 500px

freedom by Alonk's Roby on 500px

Photograph Turtle and Butterfly by Dibyendu twipz Biswas on 500px

Turtle and Butterfly by Dibyendu twipz Biswas on 500px

Photograph Black-veined White by Christian Rey on 500px

Black-veined White by Christian Rey on 500px

Photograph Me and my watchdog ..... by Yvonne Späne on 500px

Me and my watchdog ….. by Yvonne Späne on 500px

Photograph couleurs ocres by hery rajaobelina on 500px

couleurs ocres by hery rajaobelina on 500px

Photograph Girl With Butterflies by Jon Jon Photography on 500px

Girl With Butterflies by Jon Jon Photography on 500px

Photograph Morpho mid-air by Ricardo Jimenez on 500px

Morpho mid-air by Ricardo Jimenez on 500px

Photograph Rainbow by Max Rinaldi on 500px

Rainbow by Max Rinaldi on 500px

Photograph january by José Antonio Sánchez on 500px

january by José Antonio Sánchez on 500px

Photograph Swallowtail by Ricardo Alves on 500px

Swallowtail by Ricardo Alves on 500px

Photograph Butterfly Lunch by Shai Getzoff on 500px

Butterfly Lunch by Shai Getzoff on 500px

Photograph Autumn's butterfly by Alla Lora on 500px

Autumn's butterfly by Alla Lora on 500px

Photograph follow the light by Georgiy Alexandrov on 500px

follow the light by Georgiy Alexandrov on 500px

Photograph Elegance by Alida Jorissen on 500px

Elegance by Alida Jorissen on 500px

Photograph time to say goodnight by Stephan Amm on 500px

time to say goodnight by Stephan Amm on 500px

Photograph Something magical OoO by Dariusz ?akomy on 500px

Something magical OoO by Dariusz ?akomy on 500px

Photograph Natures beauty by Rob Buttle Photography on 500px

Natures beauty by Rob Buttle Photography on 500px

Photograph Necklace by Eleonora Di Primo on 500px

Necklace by Eleonora Di Primo on 500px

Photograph my drink by dani rida on 500px

my drink by dani rida on 500px

Photograph Flower Power rewoP rewolF by Fred Just on 500px

Flower Power rewoP rewolF by Fred Just on 500px

Photograph Mari posa by José Antonio Sánchez on 500px

Mari posa by José Antonio Sánchez on 500px

Photograph Lovely pair by Edwin Leung on 500px

Lovely pair by Edwin Leung on 500px

Photograph Long live the African Monarchy by AimishBoy (Nadav Bagim) on 500px

Long live the African Monarchy by AimishBoy (Nadav Bagim) on 500px

Photograph Butterfly by Veronica Andre on 500px

Butterfly by Veronica Andre on 500px

Photograph Untitled by Wojciech Zieli?ski on 500px

Untitled by Wojciech Zieli?ski on 500px

Photograph Common Blue Butterfly by Kutub Uddin on 500px

Common Blue Butterfly by Kutub Uddin on 500px

Photograph Butterfly by the bay 2 by Khoo Boo Chuan on 500px

Butterfly by the bay 2 by Khoo Boo Chuan on 500px

Photograph Butterfly by Philippe PONSIN on 500px

Butterfly by Philippe PONSIN on 500px

Photograph le magicien d'oz * by BLOAS Meven on 500px

le magicien d'oz * by BLOAS Meven on 500px

Photograph Miss by Kemal Selimovic on 500px

Miss by Kemal Selimovic on 500px

Photograph Butterflies by Kenny Salazar on 500px

Butterflies by Kenny Salazar on 500px

To see more of the beautiful butterfly photography on 500px, click here. And if this collection inspired you to visit other macro worlds, visit our gallery of magical snail photographs… as Timon and Pumbaa would say: it’s slimy, but satisfying.