This is a beautiful butterfly…or is it?
If you see a tiny winged insect do you know if it’s a butterfly or moth? Butterflies and moths have a number of similarities and differences. Here are a five simple ways that you can tell a butterfly or moth apart.
When my kids were young they became kind of obsessed with butterflies and moths. There is just something about them that is so captivating as you watch them fluttering around in the air. They even joined a lepidopterist society in order to learn more about them. Over time we could identify the common butterflies, such as a Monarch, Painted Lady, Mourning Cloak, and Swallowtail. Well, I just wanted to help you out and list the differences here so the next time you see one flying around you’ll know for certain if it’s a butterfly or moth.
Numbers of Butterflies and Moths In The World
I was surprised to find out that moths outnumber butterflies by nearly 6 to 1. Worldwide there are about 160,000 species of moths versus only around 25,000 species of butterflies. In the United States and Canada there are more than 11,000 different kinds of moths versus only 750 butterflies!
Butterfly Or Moth – How Are They The Same?
Both moths and butterflies belong to the same scientific order – Lepidoptera. If you remember from the classification system of life, order is above family, genus, and species. This indicates that they are very similar. Yet, they differ enough that they are in different families.
Butterflies and moths are both winged insects that undergo metamorphosis from a caterpillar form into their adult from.
FUN FACT – Most butterflies do not live very long as winged adults, between 2 and 14 days. The longest living one is the mourning cloak, which can live for almost one year.
Butterfly or Moth – 5 Ways To Tell Them Apart
Moths and butterflies are similar, but there are ways to tell them apart.
One thing to keep in mind is that in general, moths are not as colorful as butterflies and they are active at night.
That is a pretty general statement and with everything there are always exceptions. Here are five ways to tell apart a butterfly and moth.
A butterfly body is usually thin and smooth. Photo via Flickr.
Body (The Part Between The Wings)
Look at the body of the insect. This is the central, worm like part between the wings. In general, a butterfly body is thin and smooth, while a moth body tends to be thick and fuzzy or hairy.
A moth at rest with its wings open. Photo via Flickr.
Look at the wings together standing up when a butterfly rests.
Wings At Rest
When resting a butterfly holds its wings up, while a moth holds its wings flat.
Notice what look like balls on the end of butterfly antennas. Photo via Flickr.
Look at those crazy antennae and that hairy body. Definitely a moth.
Antennae
Butterfly antennae are straight and sticklike with a thickened clublike end. Moth antennae can take all kinds of shapes, but most taper to a pointed tip and look like feathers.
When Are They Active
Moths are mainly nocturnal, meaning they are active at night, and butterflies are mainly diurnal (daytime).
Pupal Stage
Moths make cocoons that are wrapped in silk coverings, but butterflies make chrysalises, which are hard, smooth, and have no silk.