In the world of butterflies and moths, one is often considered the queen of the prom, while the other is the ugly duckling. But there are many species of moths that rival their more popular cousins. The first skill needed in observing these insects is knowing the difference between these similar Lepidopteras.
One simple way to spot the difference between butterflies and moths is to look at the antennae. On a butterfly, the antennae are long and slim, with a club-shaped bulb on the end. On a moth, the antennae are feathery or have saw-toothed edges. You can also look at their wings. Butterflies usually fold their wings vertically, while moths sweep their wings back to cover their bodies.
Many moths are nocturnal while butterflies are diurnal, coming out only in the daytime. The duck moth, however, will appear during the day. Some butterflies will appear only at dawn or dusk, which is called crepuscular behavior.
Another difference between butterflies and moths is how they transform from larvae to adult. While some people use the terms interchangeably, cocoons and chrysalises are different. A moth cocoon is covered in silk, and a butterfly chrysalis is smooth and hard, with no silk outer coating.
There are some moths that are so striking they can be easily mistaken for butterflies. One such individual is the Io moth, which is bright yellow with two large eyespots on its lower wings. These bright markings serve as a defense against predators. Then there’s the rosy maple moth who has pretty pink stripes, while the dysphania militaris has dark, spotted wings that emulate those of a monarch butterfly. The giant atlas moth is the largest in the moth family, with a wingspan of 10 inches. Also called the snake’s head moth, this uniquely colored specimen features coloration at the top of their wings that look like a snake’s head.
While there are many differences between moths and butterflies, there are similarities as well. Nearly all butterflies and moths drink nectar from flowers, or sip juices from exposed or rotting fruit. While they chew leaves in their larval stage, they are on a liquid diet as adults. Next time a winged creature flutters by you, take a closer look. That colorful butterfly may actually be a beautiful moth.
Featured Image from wolfgang_hasselmann/Unsplash
