Butterflies & Moths

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS

Many Insect look like each other, Here are some handy hints to help you tell the differences between a moth and a butterfly.

 
Butterflies and Moths are usually seen at different times of the day  
Sun picture     Butterfly Red Admiral
                         Red Admiral Butterfly

Butterflies are usually seen in the day

 Moths usually fly at night, although some are day time flyers as well

Moon Picture        The Garden Tiger Moth

Garden Tiger Moth           
Another difference is their resting habits  
Comma Butterfly on Buddleia Butterflies generally rest with their wings closed together (comma butterfly) Moths usually hold their wings outwards

.Angleshades Moth Angleshades

 
Look at little closer Antennae: Differences  
Butterfly antennae picture    Butterflies have long antennae thickened : club or pin shaped at the end Moths tend to be hairy and have feathery antennae

Moth's antennae

             

 The Butterfly Lifecycle

  'The Peacock'    Inachis io

Butterflies have four different life stages. During their short lifetime, they undergo a complete change, or metamorphosis. Each one begins life as an egg, hatches into a caterpillar, pupates into a chrysalis and then emerges as an adult. 

Eggs  Butterfly eggs on leaf  Caterpillar  Caterpillar on leaf Pupa  A Butterfly pupa   Beauty     Peacock Butterfly on Buddleia

Laid on Stinging nettle...2wks on..munching & moulting. Pupa stage..2 wks on, mmm .. tasty Buddleia      

 

Butterfly parts: outline diagram

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