Butterflies and moths have four wings that are covered with tiny scales. In a few species, such as female cankerworms, adults are wingless. Metamorphosis is complete. Adults possess siphoning mouthparts (mouthparts prolonged into a long, tongue-like organ). Larvae of moths and butterflies are called caterpillars and have chewing mouthparts. These are among the most injurious pests of plants.
Moths differ from butterflies in that their pupae usually are enclosed in a soft, silk-like sack called a cocoon, whereas butterflies form a hardened chrysalis to protect the pupa. Most moths hide during the daytime and become active at night, whereas butterflies fly during the day and are inactive at night. Butterflies are usually more brightly colored than moths and hold their wings upright when at rest. Their antennae are thread-like with an enlarged knob-like tip. One group of butterflies, the skippers, has the tips of their antennae bent backwards, like a cane handle. In contrast, moths are generally dull colored, hold their wings flat over the back or extend them sideways when at rest, and never have knobs at the tips of their antennae.
Note: All Lepidoptera measurements given with the figures are based on average forewing length (base of the wing at the body to the tip of the wing).
Angoumois grain moth
Gelechiidae
3/16 in. |
Clearwing sphinx
Sphingidae
1 in. |
European corn borer
Pyralidae
1/2 in. |
Cutworm moth
Noctuidae
3/4 in. |
Grass moth
Pyralidae
3/8 in. |
Indianmeal moth
Pyralidae
1/4 in. |
Plume moth
Pterophoridae
3/8 in. |
Tomato hornworm moth
Sphingidae
2 in. |
Alfalfa butterfly
Piridae
1 in. |
American painted lady
Nymphalidae
1 1/4 in. |
Banded tiger moth
Artiidae
5/8 in. |
Black swallowtail
Papilionidae
1 3/4 in. |
Blind-eyed sphinx
Sphingidae
1 1/2in. |
Buckeye
Nymphalidae
1 1/4 in. |
Cercopia moth
Saturniidae
3 in. |
Ermine moth
Yponomeutidae
3/4 in. |
Geometer moth
Geometridae
3/4 in. |
Imperial moth
Saturniidae
2 1/4 in. |
Io moth
Saturniidae
1 5/8in. |
Luna moth
Saturniidae
2 1/2 in. |
Monarch
Danaidae
2 in. |
Morning cloak
Nymphalidae
1 1/4 in. |
Polyphemus moth
Saturniidae
2 in. |
Question mark
Nymphalidae
1 1/4 in. |
Red admiral
Nymphalidae
1 1/8 in. |
Silver-spotted skipper
Hesperiidae
1 in. |
Snout butterfly
Libytheidae
3/4 in. |
Southern wood-nymph
Satyridae
1 1/8 in. |
Tailed blue butterfly
Laycaenidae
1/2 in. |
The sachem
Hesperiidae
5/8 in. |
Tiger swallowtail
Papilionidae
1 3/4 in. |
Widow underwing
Noctuidae
1 3/4 in. |
Yellow-collar scape moth
Ctenuchidae
1/2 in. |
Viceroy
Nymphalidae
1 5/8 in. |