What's the difference between a butterfly and a moth?

Question

Is there any easy way to tell the difference by looking at it if an animal is a butterfly or a moth?

Answer 1

The general rule is that butterflies have antennae that are simple rods capped with clubs and alight with their wings held straight up over the body so the body itself is clearly visible. Moths have antennae that are feathery and alight with the wings held over the body like tent so the body is hidden.

However their are also skippers which are generally considered to be butterflies and certainly look like butterfiles but which have clubbed antennae and rest with their wings held out from the body.

So basically their is no simple way to distinguish mtohs form butterflies with 100% accuracy.

Answer 2

The best fail-safe way to tell the difference is in the antennae. All butterflies have what are known as clubbed antennae, they look like a shaft with a ball at the end, or kind of like a golf club. Moths have many forms of antennae, but never the clubbed form. The fact that moths come out at night and butterflies during the day is not a good way to tell because there are always exceptions. Especially with moths, where the majority of species are active during the day instead of at night as the common misconception states. There are also nocturnal species of butterflies as well. So when in doubt look at their antennae. Good Question, I hope that helped!

Answer 3

A butterfly lands with its wings closed and a moth with the wings open. Plus, the moth's wings have powder and butterflies don't.

Answer 4

It's tricky, but a quick and easy way is to check the ends of the antennae. Butterflies have bulbs or balls at the ends of their antennae. Moth antennae are smooth at the ends.

Answer 5

a butterfly is skinnier than a moth, butterflies have those stick-like bodies, moths are stockier. a moth also lands with its wings open, butterflies land with them closed

Answer 6

Butterflies have glossy wings with less powder and little feathers while a moth usually have dim, feathered and powdery wings.

Answer 7

moths are nocturnal and tend to have more fluff on their bodies. they also are attracted by light bulbs because they navigate using the moon's light.

Answer 8

A butterfly won't eat your favorite suit.

Answer 9

wow....thanks for asking the question. I don't have an answer, but I sure did learn a lot from the other answers given!

Answer 10

BUTTERFLY CA N BE SEEN IN DAY LIGHT(NATURAL).BUT MOTS CAN BE SEEN ONLY IN ARTIFICIAL LIGHT.