Although the separation of Lepidopterans into "butterfly" and "moth" categories is a well-known distinction, the difference between a butterfly and a moth is not actually a standard taxonomic division. No rule is perfect, but generally the following conditions apply: Super Families Butterflies Hesperioidea Papilionoidea Moths Micropterigoidea Heterobathmioidea Eriocranioidea Acanthopteroctetoidea Lophocoronoidea Neopseustoidea Mnesarchaeoidea Hepialoidea Nepticuloidea Incurvarioidea Palaephatoidea Tischeriodea Simaethistoidea Tineoidea Gracillarioidea Yponomeutoidea Gelechioidea Zygaenoidea Sesioidea Cossoidea Tortricoidea Choreutoida Urodoidea Galacticoidea Schreckensteinioidea Epermenioidea Pterophoroidea Aluctoidea Immoidea Axioidea Hyblaeoidea Thyridoidea Whalleyanoidea Pyraloidea Mimallonoidea Lasiocampoidea Geometroidea Drepanoidea Bombycoidea Calliduloidae Hedyloidea Noctuoidea Families About... Families Superfamily Hesperioidea: Hesperiidae Superfamily Papilionoidea: Papilionidae Pieridae Nymphalidae Lycaenidae Riodinidae A butterfly is a flying insect of the order Lepidoptera belonging to one of the superfamilies Hesperioidea (the skippers) and Papilionoidea (all other butterflies). ... A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly. ... Taxonomy (from Greek verb tassein = to classify and nomos = law, science, cf economy) may refer to: the science of classification (see alpha taxonomy) a classification Initially taxonomy was only the science of classifying living organisms, but later the word was applied in a wider sense, and may also refer to...

• The most strict difference is in the feelers, or antennae. A butterfly has a thin straight pair of antennae which end in a small club, while moths usually have large feathered antennae for the males and thin, straight, unclubbed antennae for the females. This distinction is the basis for the non-standard taxonomy distinction between Lepidoptera "division" Rhopalocera ("clubbed antennae", the butterflies) and "division" Heterocera ("variegated antennae", the moths). There are a few exceptions to this rule. Not all moths have the feathering on their antennae, but they all lack the clubbed ends of a butterfly. On the other hand, one species of butterfly, Pseudopontia paradoxa from the forests of central Africa, bears thread-like antennae that lack the distinctive clubbed ends that normally identify butterflies.

• Most moths have frenula, small barbs extending from the front of each hindwing. Butterflies do not have frenula. The frenulum is difficult to observe in living specimens.

• The large majority of moths are nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), although there are some diurnal (day-flying) species. There are few nocturnal butterflies.

• Another major difference is in the pupa or metamorphosis stage when they change from caterpillar to adult insect. A moth normally spins a cocoon around its pupa to protect and conceal itself, while butterflies metamorphose inside a hardened shell called a chrysalis. Hawk moths, however, metamorphose inside a chrysalis, typically undergound.

• Many, but not all, butterflies have bright colorful patterns on their wings. Nocturnal moths' wings are usually plain brown/grey/white/black, often with obscuring patterns of zigzags or swirls, to help camouflage them while they are resting in the daytime. However day-flying moths are often brightly-colored, particularly if they are toxic.

• Moths rest with their wings spread out to their sides. Butterflies frequently fold their wings above their backs when they are perched and/or feeding, although they will occasionally "bask" with their wings spread for short periods. Some butterflies, like the skippers, may hold their wings either flat, or folded, or even in-between (the so-called "jet plane" position) when perched.

• Moths tend to have very fat hairy or furry appearing bodies, while butterflies are slighter and smoother. Moths have larger scales that make them look more dense and fluffy. Butterflies on the other hand possess fine scales, that are actually more in density than in moths. However Moth scales seem to come off easily on touch, than butterflies, probably because of the large surface area of moth scales.

• Moths' fore and hindwings are connected, while those of butterflies can move independently. The difference in wing articulation generally makes butterfly flight smoother, although there are considerable differences in flight patterns within the two groups also.

Antennae (singular antenna), are the paired appendages connecting to the first (and in crustaceans also to the second) segment of the head of the members of all subphyla of the arthropods except Chelicerata. ... A nocturnal animal is one that sleeps during the day and is active at night - the opposite of the human (diurnal) schedule. ... Crepuscular is a term used to describe animals that are primarily active during the twilight. ... A diurnal animal is an animal that sleeps during the night and is active during the day. ... Chrysalis of Gulf Fritillary in Georgetown, South Carolina Pupation of Inachis io A pupa (plural: pupae or pupas) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. ... Metamorphosis in a process in biology by which individual physically develops after birth or hatching involving significant change in form as well as growth and differentiation. ... The striking caterpillar of the Emperor Gum Moth A caterpillar is the larval form of a lepidopteran (a member of the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). ... Cocoon has a number of meanings. ... Butterfly Chrysalis Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis For the record label created in 1969, see Chrysalis Records. ... Genera Macroglossinae Smerinthinae Sphinginae etc. ... Anolis caroliensis showing blending camouflage and counter-shading. ... Type species Hesperia comma Silver-spotted skipper Diversity 550 genera 3,500 species Subfamilies Coeliadinae Pyrrhopyginae Hesperiinae Heteropterinae Pyrginae Trapezitinae The Skippers are a group of insects in the order Lepidoptera. ... Download high resolution version (933x662, 76 KB)This is a photo from the US Parks and Wildlife Public Domain Photo Library (http://images. ...

Polyphemus moth - note the feathered antennae and fat furry body

Download high resolution version (845x645, 84 KB)This is an enlarged version of the K.butterfly photograph from the US Parks and Wildlife Public Domain Photo Archive, used for the Butterfly article and in the difference between a butterfly and a moth. ...

A Kamehameha butterfly -note the clubbed antennae and slender body

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

A Monarch butterfly demonstrating a common butterfly resting position Binomial name Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a well-known North American butterfly. ...