2. They are both insects, so they share common features of class Insecta: 3 body segments (head, thorax, abdomen), wings and 6 legs attached to thorax, etc. Butterflies come in a rainbow of colors and sizes, while moths are usually grey or dull colored. However some butterflies, like the skippers, may hold their wings either flat, or folded, or even in-between (the so-called … 2. Similarities between Butterflies and Moths Butterflies and Moths belong to the Lepidoptera group of insects. [2][3] This distinction is the basis for the earliest taxonomic divisions in the Lepidoptera: the Rhopalocera ("clubbed horn", the butterflies) and the Heterocera ("varied horn", the moths). Moths are nocturnal – active at night. Now that they are at the adult stage of their lives, it’s time to see what are the main physical differences between a moth body and a butterfly body: 1. However, many day-flying moths are brightly coloured, particularly if they are toxic. Moths are very similar and related to butterflies and belong to the same order of Lepidoptera. One of the most obvious differences between butterflies and moths is their resting wing position. Both insects start their lives as hungry caterpillars before transforming themselves completely into … Difference between Moth and Butterfly. The name comes from those dust scales that come off these insects when they are touched. Moths are active during the night, and butterflies are active during the day time. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. The Lepidoptera: form, function and diversity. Their pupal stage (between the … Some moths have a lobe on the forewing called a jugum that helps in coupling with the hindwing. However, some butterflies, like the skippers, may hold their wings either flat, or folded, or even in-between (the so-called "jet plane" position) when perched. Moths, on the other hand, often have comb-like or feathery antennae, or filamentous and unclubbed. Butterflies fly at daytime while moths fly during night time. However, there are some overall rules that can be used to tell a moth from a butterfly or skipper. (Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress)", "Adaptations for Nocturnal Vision in Insect Apposition Eyes", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Comparison_of_butterflies_and_moths&oldid=994954284, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Butterflies. Nearly all species have a long, coiled tongue known as a proboscis which allows them to suck nectar and pollen (among other food sources depending on species). [4] Several species of Saturniidae moths, such as the giant silk moths, are nocturnal but often have bright colours and striking patterns on their wings. This is due to the superposition eye's adaptations for low light environments suiting the nocturnal moths, and the apposition eye's superior resolution and potential for colour vision benefiting the more diurnal butterflies.[5]. There are many exceptions to this rule, however. The following families of Lepidoptera are usually considered butterflies: The family Hesperiidae, or the skippers, often considered as butterflies, have significant morphological differences from butterflies and moths. The plume winged moths of the family Pterophoridae also pupates without a cocoon and the pupa resembles the chrysalis of the pierid butterfly. Moths make cocoons from silk. Moths have larger scales on their wings which makes them look more dense and fluffy. Most moths also occasionally fold their wings above their backs when they are in a certain spot (like when there is no room to fully spread their wings). Kids love live animals and this unit includes photographs of real butterflies and moths. Hummingbird moth (Hyles lineata) on showy milkweed at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. [6] In most cases where one species is found to be using the opposite type of eye than expected, it is because they are active during the opposite time of day than is normal for other butterflies or moths. bipectinate). Moths are stout and fuzzy; butterflies are slender and smooth. Butterflies frequently fold their wings above their backs when they are perched although they will occasionally "bask" with their wings spread for short periods (several types of Swallowtail butterflies tend to frequently rest with their wings spread when in sunlight). Although the rules for distinguishing these groups are not absolute, one very good guiding principle is that butterflies have thin antennae and (with one exception) have small balls or clubs at the end of their antennae. The similarities between an elephant and a butterfly is both are in the animal kingdom, and they may also share the same ecosystem. © 2010-2020. Exceptions to this rule include the diurnal Gypsy moth and the spectacular \"Uraniidae\" or Sunset moths. But butterflies and moths have more similarities than just their dusty wings. Butterflies tend to fold their wings vertically up over their backs. Unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward answer – at least not one that most people find acceptable. The most obvious difference is in the feelers, or antennae. Some butterflies, like Pseudopontia paradoxa from the forests of central Africa, lack the club ends. The other families of the Lepidoptera are considered moths. Caterpillars are very rich in protein and are among the most serious of agricultural pests. Many attempts have been made to group the superfamilies of the Lepidoptera into natural groups, most of which fail because one of the two groups is not monophyletic: Microlepidoptera and Macrolepidoptera, Heterocera and Rhopalocera, Jugatae and Frenatae, Monotrysia and Ditrysia.[1]. There are, however, exceptions to this rule and a few moths (the families Castniidae, Uraniidae, Apoprogonidae, and Sematuridae[4]) have clubbed antennae. Blues and coppers or gossamer-winged butterflies, This page was last edited on 18 December 2020, at 11:59. The adult, also called the imago, emerges from its pupal cuticle with a swollen abdomen and shriveled wings. Both moths and butterflies belong to the same order i.e Lepidoptera. Moth antennae can be quite varied in appearance, but in particular lack the club end. It was originally misplaced into the genus Papilio due to the head of a butterfly being mistakenly attached to the specimen. Most species of moths are nocturnal and attracted to artificial lights, Attacus atlas is the largest moth in the world. Where Can You Watch Big Bash League 2020-21 Season? A sometimes confusing family can be the Geometridae (such as the winter moth) because the adults often rest with their wings folded vertically. Moths rest with their wings open, whereas butterflies tend to rest with their wings closed. Butterflies, however, lack these structures. Oxford, UK: The Oxford University Press; 404 p. "What are the differences between butterflies and moths? These moths have thin bodies and large wings like many butterflies but may be distinguished easily by structural differences in their antennae (e.g. Despite appearances, butterflies and moths have different types of compound eyes. A butterfly’s antennae are club-shaped with a long shaft and a bulb at the end. Most moths are nocturnal or crepuscular while most butterflies are diurnal. Butterflies and moths have a lot in common. For example, the hawk moths form an exposed pupa which is underground. Most butterflies are diurnal (awake during the day and sleep at night). The PowerPoint presentation introduces children to the similarities and differences between butterflies and moths. The divisions are named by this principle: "club-antennae" (Rhopalocera) or "varied-antennae" (Heterocera). Some moth species, like the luna and rosy maple moth, display strikingly vibrant color patterns. However, many butterflies “sun bake” with their wings open. A few butterflies are also plain-coloured, like the cabbage white butterfly or the baron butterfly. Moths tend to hold their wings in a tent-like manner that hides their abdomen. Moth larva make a cocoon from silk. The Parnassius butterfly larvae make a flimsy cocoon for pupation and they pupate near the ground surface between debris. Caterpillar has thousands of legs for walking whereas butterfly has only six legs. This difference is possibly due to the need for moths to conserve heat during the cooler nights, or to confound echolocation by bats, whereas butterflies are able to absorb sunlight. A fox moth with its wings pulled back. But on this the similarities of the winged creatures do not end. Moths usually rest with their wings spread out to their sides. The body shape and appearance.This is where the difference between moths and butterflies become quite clear. A common classification of the Lepidoptera involves their differentiation into butterflies and moths. Moths usually rest with their wings spread out to their sides. ", "What is the difference between a butterfly and a moth? Pupal Stage. Ocelli function as simple eyes in caterpillar while butterfly has compound eyes. The frenulum can be observed only when a specimen is in hand. Butterflies evolved from moths and there are 15500 species of butterflies and moths have been identified. Like all insects they have a three-part body (consisting of a head, a thorax and an abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes and a segmented exoskeleton. Both belong to the order of the Lepidoptera, that is to say, those of “wings with scales”. One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth is to look at the antennae. Butterflies are typically larger in size and have more colorful patterns on their wings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Butterflies, for the most part, are brightly colored … A moth’s antennae are feathery or saw-edged. Difference Between Butterfly and Moth: Moths. Gypsy moths sometimes form butterfly-style pupae, hanging on twigs or tree bark, although usually they create flimsy cocoons out of silk strands and a few leaves, partially exposing the pupa. iStock/Ian_Redding … Moths tend to have stout and hairy or furry-looking bodies, while butterflies have slender and smoother abdomens. ... is central to determining the similarities and differences between moth and butterfly development, Sourakov said. Butterflies are Diurnal – active at day. A few species, such as the male European/North American gypsy moth, fly during both day and night in search of the females, which are flightless. Though not universal, moths very commonly have superposition eyes, while butterflies equally commonly favour apposition eyes. Caterpillar is the common name for the larvae of order Lepidoptera members that comprising butterflies and moths. The wings belonging to both of these animals contain many tiny scales that are clear to the naked eye. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. Most moths are nocturnal (awake at night and sleep during the day). Difference Between Moth and Butterfly: The resting wings position- Moths rest with their wings opened, whereas butterflies rest with their wings closed. Both are holometabolous (have larvae and pupae and adult stages), flying insects that often feed on plant nectar and are important plant pollinators, but they are very different otherwise. Moths are typically smaller sized with more plain or drab-colored wings. Butterfly: Moth: Antennae: rounded clubs on the ends: thin or often feathery: Body: thin and smooth: thick and fuzzy: Active: during the day: during the night: Color: colorful: dull: Pupal Stage: chrysalis: cocoon: Wings: held vertically when resting: held flat against body when resting Lepidoptera order of insects includes moths and butterflies, characterized by appearence, especially the wings. Most moth caterpillars spin a cocoon made of silk within which they metamorphose into the pupal stage. ‘What is the difference between butterflies and moths?’ is one of the questions I am most frequently asked. Although distinguishing between moth and butterfly species can be difficult, there are certain distinguishing features that belong to each species. Both butterflies and moths share common traits of having wings, an exoskeleton, a 3-parted … In this taxonomic scheme, moths belong to the suborder Heterocera. 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