Difference Between Butterfly and Moth

Butterfly vs Moth

Butterfly and Moth are winged insects that are considered lovely and can either amuse or scare any body. Both belong to the Lepidoptera classification. Both insects play very important roles in the life cycle and both are considered non harmful.

Butterfly

A butterfly is considered to be beautiful and is associated with flowers and anything pretty. Butterflies have their wings closed when they are in a resting position. Butterflies have knobbed like antennae which are also long and thin. A butterfly’s color would usually range from subtle yet colorful to very bright colors, which are usually used to scare larger preys away.

Moth

The moth on the other hand, is usually associated with night time or the dark. They have antennas that are straight, branched, short and feathery. Its colors duller compared to the butterflies which helps them during the night, they are not easily visible by larger preys. Their wings are usually wide open when resting. Their usual flight patterns occur during the night.

Difference between Butterfly and Moth

A butterfly goes out during the day; moth flies around during nighttime. Butterflies have colorful wings while a moth is usually duller, mostly playing on neutral colors. A butterfly’s wing is closed; moths have their wings wide open when resting. Butterfly’s have antennas that are knobbed and are thin and long. Moths have short and feathery antennas. A butterfly pupa is left unprotected and hanging from a branch of a tree or any other means of support. In the meantime, a moth leaves its pupa protected by a cocoon and is usually left underground.

Both butterflies and moths still bring out interest most especially to children. There are butterfly sanctuaries wherein they can see and differentiate the details visually.

In brief: • Butterflies have colorful wings while moths have dull colored ones. • Knobbed antennas are for butterflies while short and feathery for moths. • Butterflies fly during the day while moth roams around during the night. • Butterfly keeps its wings closed when resting while a moth has its wings open.