What is the difference between a Moth and a Butterfly?

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

A healthy Caterpillar can turn either into a moth or a butterfly depending on its species. Butterflies are members of just a few of the families of the insect order Lepidoptera. The members of the other families are all called moths. There are about 416 species of butterflies in Australia. There are estimated to be about 20,000 species of moths. The adults of the butterfly families have some features in common:

  • butterflies fly in the daytime
    (most moths fly at night, except those in the families and subfamilies
    URANIIDAE ,   AGARISTINAE , and CTENUCHINAE),

  • butterflies have a naked pupa (most moths have cocoons),

  • butterflies have filamentary antenna with a knob on the end
    (most moths, especially the males, have feathery antennae), and

  • butterflies fold their wings up vertically above the body when at rest
    (most moths fold them over like a tent shape).


    • Belenois java
    BUTTERFLY

    Thallarcha albicollis
    MOTH

    Link to
    Frequently Asked Questions about Caterpillars

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    (updated 31 May 2010)