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Moths
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We love watching butterflies, and moths too!
A moth is an insect related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. There are an estimated 160,000 species of moth, about 10 times the number of species of butterfly.
In general, moths tend to be stockier and have furry bodies, whereas butterflies are smooth and lean.
Butterflies tend to fold their wings vertically up over their backs, while moths hold their wings in a tent-like fashion hiding the abdomen. Butterflies are typically larger and have more colorful patterns on their wings. Moths are typically smaller with drab-colored wings, but many are colorful.
Moths are not all drab-colored! Here are four large, colorful moths found in North America  |
Butterflies are primarily diurnal, flying in the daytime. Moths are generally nocturnal, flying at night. However, there are moths that are diurnal, such as the buck moth and there are butterflies that are crepuscular, meaning they fly at dawn and dusk. A moth makes a cocoon, which is wrapped in a silk covering. A butterfly makes a chrysalis, which is hard, smooth and has no silk covering.
Nocturnal moths are usually plain brown, grey, white or black and often possess patterns of zigzags or swirls which help camouflage them from predators as they rest during the day. However, many day-flying moths are brightly colorred, particularly if they are toxic.
Additionally, moth wings, unlike butterfly wings, have a structure called a frenulum, which joins the forewing to the hind wing.
A butterfly’s antennae are club-shaped with a long shaft and a bulb at the end. A moth’s antennae are feathery or saw-edged (see the side-by-side comparison of a butterfly and moth below).
Butterfly (l) and moth (r) side-by-side comparison |
Butterfly or Moth? No single feature distinguishes one from another Sign at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona (Staff Photo) |
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Our Collection of Common Moth Photographs
Shown here are a few moth favorites, arranged not by scientific classifications, but by common traits ... like large, brownish, black & white, etc. We'll get more posted from our archives ... so visit again soon.
Large Moths |
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Luna Moth (Actias luna) click for details  |
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Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia) click for details  |
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Promethea Moth (Callosamia promethea) click for details  |
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Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) click for details  |
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Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) (Asia)  |
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Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata) click for details  |
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Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) click for details
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Modest Sphinx Moth (Pachysphinx modesta) click for details  |
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"Hummingbird" Moths |
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White-Lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata) click for details  |
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Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis) click for details
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Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe) click for details |
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Nessus Sphinx Moth (Amphion floridensis)  |
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Pink and Red Moths |
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Little Pink Moth (Pyrausta inornatalis) click for details  |
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Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae) This moth is a native species in Europe and western and central Asia then east across the Palearctic to Siberia to China. It has been introduced into New Zealand, Australia and North America to control ragwort, on which its larvae feed. The moth is named after the red mineral cinnabar because of the red patches on its predominantly black wings.  |
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Painted Schinia Moth (Schinia volupia) click for details  |
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Black and White Moths |
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Eight-spotted Forester Moth (Alypia octomaculata) click for details  |
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Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) click for details  |
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Jersey Tiger Moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria) (UK)  |
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White Furcula Moth (Furcula borealis)  |
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Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) click for details  |
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Indomitable Graphic Moth (Melipotis indomita)  |
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Veined Ctenucha Moth (Ctenucha venosa) click for details  |
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Geometer Moth  |
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Police Car Moth (Gnophaela vermiculata)  |
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Brown and Browish Moths |
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Tersa Sphinx Moth (Xylophanes tersa) click to enlarge  |
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Walnut Sphinx Moth (Amorpha juglandis)  |
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Tricolor Buckmoth (Hemileuca tricolor)  |
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Large Maple Spanworm Moth (Prochoerodes lineola)  |
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Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) (UK)  |
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Moths with Green Coloration |
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Emerald Moth  |
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Pandora Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha pandorus)  |
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Banded Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha fasciatus)  |
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Orange Moths and those with Orange Markings |
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Spiny Oakworm Moth (Anisota stigma) click for details  |
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Io Moth (Automeris io) click for details  |
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Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata) (UK)  |
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Tiger Moth  |
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Underwing Moth  |
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St. Lawrence Tiger Moth (Arctia parthenos)  |
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Need more help identifying moths? Consider these popular books at our Amazon Store |
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Peterson First Guide to Butterflies and Moths of North America  |
Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America  |
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The Life Cycles of Butterflies |
Stoke's Beginner's Guide to Butterflies |
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