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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 quick moth favorites, arranged not by scientific classifications, but by common traits ... like largw, brownish, black & white, etc. We'll get more posted from our archives ... so visit again soon.
Large Moths |
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Luna Moth |
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Cecropia Moth |
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Promethea Moth |
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Polyphemus Moth |
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Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) (Asia) |
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Black Witch Moth |
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Imperial Moth |
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Modest Sphinx Moth |
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"Hummingbird" Moths |
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White-Lined Sphinx Moth |
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Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth |
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Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe) |
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Nessus Sphinx Moth |
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Pink and Red Moths |
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Little Pink Moth |
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Cinnabar Moth 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 |
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Black and White Moths |
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Eight-spotted Forester Moth |
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Leopard Moth |
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Jersey Tiger Moth (UK) |
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White Furcula Moth |
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Salt Marsh Moth |
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Indomitable Graphic Moth (Melipotis indomita) |
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Veined Ctenucha Moth |
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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 |
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Walnut Sphinx Moth |
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Tricolor Buckmoth |
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Large Maple Spanworm Moth |
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Box Tree Moth (UK) |
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Moths with Green Coloration |
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Emerald Moth |
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Pandora Sphinx Moth |
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Banded Sphinx Moth |
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Orange Moths and those with Orange Markings |
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Spiny Oakworm Moth |
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Io Moth |
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Mint Moth (UK) |
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Tiger Moth |
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Underwing Moth |
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St. Lawrence Tiger Moth |
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