Welcome to part 2 of Mothing 101 post. This post covers basic differences between moths and butterflies. If you want to see an overview of the the posts I’m creating for Mothing 101.
I’ve said it before, but it’s a moth’s world. There are 9x more the number of moth species than butterfly species. So why do butterflies get all the good press? Are moths really so different? Is it simply because many people equate moths with creatures of the dark? Is it because they are more pesty than butterflies.
Moths are from the same classification order as butterflies—lepidoptera. They have similar lifecycles and have similar shapes being winged insects. They both even come in various sizes.
So if they are from the same order, and both come in various sizes, how can we tell a butterfly from a moth? It’s easier to go by the major differences between them. But keep in mind, nature really seems to like to create exceptions. See my note beneath this list.
From mini moths to giant moths
Moth sizes range from tiny creatures with wingspans of 2-3 mm such the pygmy or dwarf moth, to the largest moth up to 30 cm wingspan of the Atlas moth (Attacus atlas). The largest butterfly is the female Queen Alexandra’s bird wing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) and can grow to be the same size.
Key Differences between butterflies and moths
Antennae:
- Moths: Typically have feathery or comb-like antennae.
- Butterflies: Usually have slender, clubbed antennae (often thicker at the end).
Image Credit: Lori Ravenford
Wings:
- Moths: Wings usually held flat when at rest, and some have a frenulum (a wing-coupling structure).
- Butterflies: Wings are usually held vertically above the body when at rest and lack a frenulum.
Resting Position:
- Moths: Rest with wings spread flat or folded flat over their bodies.
- Butterflies: Rest with wings held upright and closed together above their backs.
Body:
- Moths: Generally have stout, furry bodies.
- Butterflies: Tend to have slender bodies
Activity:
- Moths: Most are nocturnal (active at night), though there are diurnal (daytime-active) species.
- Butterflies: Typically diurnal, flying during the day.
Behavior:
- Moths: Often exhibit erratic flight patterns.
- Butterflies: Typically have more graceful flight patterns (although I had a large butterfly fly into my head in Singapore so I don’t know how graceful that was.)
Pupal Stage:
- Moths: Often form a silk cocoon or pupate underground.
- Butterflies: Generally form a chrysalis, which is usually attached to a surface.
But it’s still not always easy to tell. Skippers (Family Hesperiidae) are tiny butterflies that are often mistaken for moths. My favorite moth, the hummingbird hawk moth, is often mistaken for a butterfly (and sometimes a small hummingbird) because it’s active during the day and it can hover. Lepidoptera is a diverse order and nature is amazing, so don’t forget this list probably works best as a guideline.
Basic Moth Anatomy
All of these creatures could have their own deeeeep dive and this article is really meant for skimming the surface. I try to be accurate in my research. If I have any incorrect information, please let me know. I’m happy to make changes.
Further reading
If you want to read more about the differences between moths and butterflies I recommend:
- This article from Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. They have great photos.
- This article from Wildlife Preservation Canada. The illustrations and diagrams are adorable.
- This article from BBC Science Focus goes into a lot of depth but is still a fun read.
Team Moth or Team Butterfly?
Are you team moth or team butterfly? Maybe you can’t choose and you’re just team lepidoptera? Do you have a favorite butterfly or moth? What are you thoughts on moths—interesting but icky? Hard no? Best creatures ever?
Next article is a very basic list of moth super families, in other words, what kind of moths are out there?
Remember, it’s a moth’s world.