Active hours
Butterflies are diurnal insects, while moths are nocturnal. If you see an insect sitting on a flower and sipping on nectar on a summer day, you can say with certainty that this is a butterfly.
Behavior
Butterflies need sunlight to fly. They use it to raise their body temperature.
Moths prefer wooded areas or dark environments for their habitat. When indoors, they prefer to stay in closets or pantries. They also need heat to fly, but they heat themselves using the vibrations of their wings.
Color
Most butterflies are more colorful than moths. Tiny scales on their wings reflect light and create a colorful, intricate pattern. The wings of moths are a little different — nocturnal insects don’t need reflective scales that can attract the unnecessary attention of predators. Therefore, most moths have a soft, camouflage color.
Antennae
Butterflies have thin, threadlike antennae with a club on the tip. And they use them for smell and balance.
The antennae of moths are feathery. They are used not only for orientation in space but also, to help moths find food and partners. It’s believed that these moths’ antennae are more sensitive than those of butterflies. You can find moths with antennae similar to butterflies, but you won’t find butterflies with feathery antennae.

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