Butterflies vs. Moths

Butterfly Moth

The Similarities:
     *Butterflies and moths both belong to a group of insects called Lepidoptera.
     *Both have tiny three dimensional structures on their wings that have several functions: (1) they produce many of the insect’s brilliant colours; and (2) they help repel water from the wings.
     *Butterflies and moths both go through the same four life cycle stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult.
     *Both have six legs, one pair of antennae; and a segmented body in which a head, thorax and abdomen can be distinguished.

The Differences:
     *Butterflies have straight knobbed antennae; moth antennae range from straight filaments to feathery or branched.
     *Butterfly bodies are smooth and slender; moth bodies tend to be plump and fuzzy.
     *Butterflies generally rest with their wings held upright while moths spread their wings.
     *Butterflies fly by day – moths fly by night, but there are some day flying moths and butterflies that fly at dusk.
     *Butterflies have a feeding mechanism (proboscis), moths do not eat, having done all their eating in the larvae stage.
     *A butterfly forms a chrysalis which hangs, and is always produced by a single butterfly without silk. A moth forms a cocoon, usually on the ground and surrounded by silk.