What is the difference between butterflies and moths?

Posted onJune 14, 2023byMitchell Gardiner|Native Pollinator Initiative, Pollinators

How do you tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth? This is a question we hear on a regular basis. After spending a few summers surveying for butterflies, the difference is almost an intuition. Just something in how butterflies move compared to moths. However if you are new to the world of butterflies (or moths), this isn’t a satisfactory answer.

If you’ve ever confused a moth with a butterfly or vice versa – I can’t blame you, you have good reason after all they are very similar.

Both butterflies and moths belong to the animal order Lepidoptera. They are both flying insects defined by their scale covered wings (often thought of as dust-covered wings). Both fulfill a similar role in their ecosystems as pollinators of flowering plants. With all of these similarities butterflies and moths are easily confused. I’ll list some of the key differences between butterflies and moths. Hopefully by the end of this blog you will be able to tell them apart.

Some general ways to distinguish between butterflies and moths. The opinions expressed in this cartoon are not reflective of my own opinions (butterflies are not overrated)(Animation by Meg Adams).

Diurnal vs. Nocturnal:

Starting off simple, most butterflies are diurnal meaning they are active during the day. Moths on the other hand are often more active during the night or nocturnal. So if you spot a lepidoptera proudly fluttering in the midday sun, is it a butterfly? Complicating things, there are some exceptions to this rule, particularly with moths some of which are diurnal or crepuscular (active at sundown). Luckily for us there are some other features which can help us separate these crossover species.

Wing Posture

This is a more challenging identification tool, but it is nonetheless useful to have in your arsenal. Moths usually spread their wings out while they are at rest or hold them against their body. While they are resting butterflies fold their wings up behind their back. This can get a bit tricky however, as butterflies will open their wings while they are basking in the sun. If you are in a shaded spot or it is overcast out and you see a lepidoptera in full spread, you can be confident that you are looking at a moth. However, once again there are exceptions to this rule.

Antenna shape

So if there are exceptions to all of these rules, what is one feature that truly distinguishes these two groups? One of the more reliable tells is the shape of the antennae. Butterflies have antennae that are shaped like… radio antennae or some people describe it as being club-shaped. Moths on the other hand usually have feathered or branched antennae or more specifically lack the rounded club shape on the end of the antenna.

Notice the club shape of a butterfly’s antennae? Photo: Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

A good example of feathered antenna Photo: Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

Mitch Gardiner

Lead Conservation Recovery Technician

Mitch is working with WPC’s recovery team in the Fraser Valley, BC. He completed his BSc at Trent University, majoring in Conservation Biology. Mitch has worked with WPC’s Mottled Duskywing Recovery Project, coming to this from tallgrass prairie stewardship. Mitch enjoys cultivating a deep understanding of species and ecosystems that comes with conservation. What he appreciates most is fostering a passion and respect for nature in others.

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