The difference between a butterfly and a moth

Butterflies are the general name of Lepidoptera. Moths are the largest group in Lepidoptera, accounting for about 9 × 10 of Lepidoptera species. The main difference between butterflies and moths is that the head of butterflies has a pair of rod-shaped or hammer-shaped antennae, and moths have various antennae. At the same time, moths are mostly active at night, and butterflies are mostly active during the day. Let's take a look at the differences between butterflies and moths.

The similarities between butterflies and moths

1. The body surface and wings of adults of butterflies and moths are siphoned by scales and mouthparts.

2. Most of the larvae of butterflies and moths are herbivorous, and many of them are agricultural pests.

3. Butterflies and moths are completely abnormal insects.

Butterflies and moths have six pairs of feet.

What are the characteristics of butterflies?

1. The scale powder on the front of most butterfly wings is bright in color, and the wing surface is not plush. A few butterflies of the family Nymphalidae have obvious plush on the hindwing roots.

2. Most butterflies have rod-shaped antennae with inflated tip.

3. The way butterflies rest on their backs with their wings folded together.

4. The coat on the torso of butterflies is sparse (need to be compared with moths).

5. The root of the rear wing visible on the ventral side of the butterfly is curved (attached) and has no wing reins. It helps to improve the speed of flight because butterflies generally fly faster than moths during the day.

6. The pupa of the butterfly is naked and has no cocoon.

7. The activity time of butterflies is strictly defined during the day.

What are the characteristics of moths?

1. Moths fly day and night, most of them are brown or black, and few colors are as bright as butterflies.

2. The top of the antennae of most moths is needle-like curved or the whole antennae is feathery, and a few moths (Noctuidae, Cerambycidae) are similar to butterflies because of their daytime activities.

3. Most moths lay out their four wings to rest.

4. The bristles of the trunk of moths are generally very dense, just as moths of the family Noctuidae are easily confused with hummingbirds during flight.

5. The ventral hindwing root of most moths is smooth and the arc is very small, which is related to the slow flying speed of moths at night.

6. The pupae of moths have cocoons. For example, silk is extracted from the cocoons of silkworm moths.