What’s the difference? I think butterflies are durnal and moths are nocturnal. I think there is a difference in their antannae and I think butterflies have a four stage life cycle as opposed the moths’ three stage. Am I right? Am I forgetting anything?
Also, to hijack my own thread, why are moths attracted to lights? Wouldn’t it not favor a species to be attracted to something that is usually hot?
Butterflies and moths are both in the same insect family, lepidoptera, meaning “gem wing”. Both have a four-stage life cycle, like most insects. Almost all butterflies are diurnal, but there are some diurnal moths, as well. Butterflies’ antennae are long and thin with a little clublike end, while moth’s antennae are fern-shaped with fine hairs frotruding from the main shaft. Butterflies fold their wings flat together over their bodies in a vertical orientation, while moths fpold their wings tentlike close to their bodies.
Well, the quick answer to #2 is here.
Butterflies hold their wings folded vertically, and moths hold their wings horizontally.
Moths tend to be nocturnal and have feathery antennae; butterflies are mostly diurnal and have club-shaped antennae.
Moths have more dark meat.
Skippers are sort of between the butterflies and moths in morphology.
Lepidoptera tend to be much less varied than other insect orders; thay are all just worms slung between two fancy kites.