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Q. What is the difference between a butterfly and a moth?
A. Butterflies and moths are all members of the taxonomic order Lepidoptera; however there are some distinguishing characteristics that make them different from one another.
• Antennae. Moths usually have “feathered” antennae whereas butterflies have a club or hook at the end of their antennae. However, there are a few families of moths that have clubbed antennae.
• Activity. Moths are usually active at night (nocturnal) whereas butterflies are active during the day (diurnal). However, there are several species of moths that fly during the day and some butterflies that are active around dusk.
• Wings. Most moths will rest with their wings open, whereas most butterflies will rest with their wings folded up behind them.
• Body. Moths generally have thick, furry bodies. Butterflies generally have slender, hairless bodies.
• Pupae. Both moths and butterflies have a pupae stage, however most moths form a silk casing within which they pupate, often using leaves, twigs, and other materials for additional protection and camouflage. This silk casing is called a cocoon. Butterfly pupae are not encased in a silk cocoon and their uncovered pupa is called a chrysalis.
Q. Why do some of the butterflies I see have only four legs?
A. Like all insects, butterflies have six legs. The butterflies that appear to have only four legs are members of the family Nymphalidae, commonly called the “brush-footed” butterflies. The first pair of legs (forelegs) in this family of butterflies is reduced in size and covered in long hairs making them resemble a brush. They rarely serve a purpose and are held up under the butterfly’s head.
Q. What is the powder that comes off when you touch a butterfly’s wings?
A. The “powder” on a butterfly’s wings is actually millions of tiny scales that protect the wings and give them their beautiful colouration. Under a microscope these scales resemble shingles on a roof. If you wiped all the scales off a butterfly’s wings you would find that the wing is actually clear!
Q. I was told that if you wipe the powder off a butterfly’s wings it will die. Is this true?
A. No. The scales on a butterfly’s wings are there for protection, water-proofing, thermoregulation, and to give them their colour. If you remove the scales from the wings you will remove the colour and make them less resistant to damage but you will not kill them. Because butterfly wings are very fragile, it is likely that this old wives’ tale has perpetuated in order to keep children from tearing or ripping the wings.
Q. How do Monarch butterflies fly all the way to Mexico every year?
A. There are still many unanswered questions about Monarch migration. We have known for quite some time that Monarchs living in western Canada migrate to Pacific Grove, California. However, Monarchs living east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to about 30 sites in the Mexican mountains between 70 and 170 km west of Mexico City. These overwintering sites were only discovered recently in 1975 by Dr. Fred Urquhart of the University of Toronto. Monarchs make this incredible journey every year by “fueling up” their fat stores with nectar. Many researchers think they are able to conserve this “fuel” while flying by gliding on wind currents, allowing them to travel great distances. Learn More About the Monarch Butterfly: Check out our online Monarch Guide!
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