Butterflies and moths belong to the insect order Lepidoptera, which means “scaly wings” in Greek. They are distinguished by their large, often colorful wings and the fine scales that cover them. There are over 180,000 Lepidopteran species identified worldwide, including skippers, butterflies, and moths. While butterflies and moths may look similar, there are some key differences between them.
Differences Between Butterflies and Moths
Butterflies and moths have some clear physical differences:
| Butterflies | Moths |
| Thin antennae with club-shaped tips | Feathery or wider, thicker antennae |
| Active during the day | Active at night (nocturnal) |
| At rest, wings are held upright | At rest, wings are held flat |
| Chrysalis has no cocoon | Cocoon spun from silk to protect chrysalis |
In general, butterflies tend to be brightly colored with different patterns while moths are drab colored to help camouflage them. Butterflies have club-shaped knobs at the ends of their antennae while moth antennae are feathery or thicker and not clubbed.
Butterflies are typically active during the day while most moths fly at night. When at rest, butterflies hold their wings upright together above their bodies while moths flatten their wings out to their sides.
During metamorphosis, butterflies form an exposed chrysalis which they attach to a branch or stem. Moths spin a silky cocoon around the pupa to protect the chrysalis within.
Life Cycle
Butterflies and moths both undergo complete metamorphosis with four life cycle stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis or cocoon), and adult.
Egg Stage
The female lays hundreds of tiny eggs, usually on the underside of leaves. The eggs hatch after several days.
Larva Stage
The larva or caterpillar is the primary feeding stage. Caterpillars molt several times as they eat voraciously and grow rapidly.
Pupa Stage
In the pupa stage, the caterpillar forms itself into a chrysalis (butterflies) or cocoon (moths). Inside, the larva radically transforms its body, dissolving and reforming tissues into the adult wings, legs, eyes, etc. This stage may last weeks to months depending on species.
Adult Stage
The adult emerges, expands and dries its wings, and prepares for reproduction. Butterfly and moth lifespans range from a week to several months.
Distinguishing Colored Butterflies vs. Moths
While many moths are plain colored to camouflage against bark and dirt, some species are brightly colored or patterned. So how do you tell a colored moth from a butterfly? Here are some tips:
– Check the antennae. Butterfly antennae are long and thin with clubbed tips. Moth antennae are more varied – feathery, thicker, or wider.
– Note the wings at rest. Butterfly wings stand upright together above the body. Moth wings lay flat or may be wrapped around the body like a tent.
– Consider activity time. If you see the insect flying during the day, it’s likely a butterfly. Moths are most active at night.
– Examine the body shape. Butterfly bodies are slim and taper gently. Moths are usually stout and hairy.
– Look for signs of a cocoon. Butterfly pupae don’t have cocoons – they form exposed chrysalises. Moth pupae are inside protective silk cocoons.
Examples of Colored Butterflies vs. Moths
Here are some examples of brightly colored moths that may be mistaken for butterflies:
Luna Moth
The pale green Luna moth has long tails on its hindwings. The wings have a frosted or grainy texture. The larvae feed on birch, walnut, and hickory trees.
Rosy Maple Moth
This small pink and yellow moth’s furry body and feathery antennae give it away as a moth, not a butterfly. The mature larvae are green with white, yellow, and black markings.
Hummingbird Moth
This moth hovers and drinks nectar from flowers like a hummingbird. It has clear wings with reddish-brown borders and body. The antennae are thick and feathery.
Monarch Butterfly
The Monarch’s orange and black patterned wings are a classic butterfly look. The long, skinny antennae have clubbed tips. Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed.
Red Admiral Butterfly
Red, orange, and black patterned wings with white and blue spots distinguish this widespread butterfly. Note the long, thin antennae. Caterpillars feed on nettles and hops.
Painted Lady Butterfly
This orange and black butterfly has white and blue spots on the wings like the Red Admiral. The antennae are a giveaway – long with clubbed tips. Thistles are the caterpillar host plant.
Is a Brown Butterfly a Moth?
While many moths are cryptically colored, some butterflies also have plain brown coloration. So a brown wing color alone doesn’t indicate if it’s a moth or butterfly. Here are tips for identifying a brown butterfly:
– Check the antennae shape – long and thin with clubs indicates a butterfly
– Note wings held upright when resting – signaling butterfly
– Active in daylight points to a butterfly
– Slim, tapered body is a butterfly trait
– Lack of fuzzy scales suggests a butterfly
So in summary, a plain brown insect with long, thin antennae, wings held together over its back, active in daylight, a streamlined body, and lack of dense furry scales is likely a brown butterfly rather than a moth. Examples of brown butterflies include:
Mourning Cloak – Large velvety brown wings with yellow borders and blue spots on underside.
Common Ringlet – Small brown butterfly with orange spots and ring patterns on underside of wings.
Little Wood Satyr – Delicate brown with large eyespots on underside of wings.
Grayling Butterfly – Drab gray-brown coloration provides camouflage in open fields.
Eyed Brown – Brown with large yellow eyespots on underside of hindwings. White fringe on wing edges.
Conclusion
While butterflies and moths share many similarities, their antennae, wings, activity time, body shape, and pupation can help distinguish them. Some moths mimic butterflies with bright colors, but their feathered antennae, stout fuzzy bodies, and flat resting wings give them away. A plain brown insect could be either a butterfly or moth. Look for long thin antennae with clubs, upright resting wings, daytime activity, slim body, and lack of dense hairs to identify it as a brown butterfly rather than moth. Being observant of these subtle differences helps identify whether a brown winged insect is a gorgeous butterfly or masterfully disguised moth.
