Girraween National Park - Animals - Arthropods - Insects

girraween > animals > arthropods > insects

Butterflies and Moths

It has been estimated that there could be up to 250,000 species of moth and up to 20,000 species of butterfly world-wide. Many of them are yet to be described. It can sometimes be very difficult to tell if something is a moth or a butterfly and experts still argue over what are the differences between the two.

Here are a few of the common differences. There are, of course, always exceptions to the rule.

Moths have feathery or comb-like antenna. Butterflies have smooth antenna with a club-shape on the end.
Moths tend to have short, fat, very hairy bodies. Butterflies have smoother, more slender bodies with less hair.
Moth wings can be quite thick and fluffy-looking, while butterfly wings look smoother.
Moths are usually dull coloured. Butterflies typically have brightly coloured wings.
Moth caterpillars spin silk cocoons in which to pupate. Butterfly caterpillars turn into an exposed pupa - a chrysalis.
Moths are usually active at night, while butterflies are active during the day.

Butterflies	Superfamily – Hesperioidea These butterflies are commonly known as "Skippers". All skippers belong in the family Hesperiidae.
	Superfamily – Papilionoidea These are commonly known as the "True Butterflies". There are five families within the Papilionoidea superfamily.
	Lycaenidae The Blues and Coppers, or Gossamer-winged Butterflies.
	Nymphalidae The Brush-footed Butterflies.
	Papilionidae Swallowtails and Birdwings.
	Pieridae The Whites or Yellows.
	Riodinidae The Metalmark Butterflies. None yet found in Girraween.	[No Photo]
Moths	Adelidae Fairy Long Horn Moths.
	Arctiidae Footmen Moths, Lichen Moths, Tiger Moths, and Wasp Moths.
	Geometridae Emerald Moths, Loopers, Inchworms.
	Lasiocampidae Eggar Moths, Snout Moths, Lappet Moths.
	Noctuidae Armyworms, Cutworms, Underwings and Whistling Moths.
	Notodontidae Prominent Moths.
	Oecophoridae Concealer Moths.
	Saturniidae Emperor Moths.