Moths, not Butterflies

Moths differ from butterflies in several ways. Most moths have feathery antennae. At rest, their wings are often folded flat across their backs. Their bodies tend to be plumper and sometimes look furry. Moths fly at night and during twilight hours. In general they are very short-lived, with some only lasting a few days.

We have come across a number of moths (to my pleasure) and been able to compare them. The one pictured here is my all time favorite. One of the scientists on this study actually loves moths - and collects them. He hadn't seen this one before and was terribly excited to find it.

Moths tend to be slightly larger than butterflies - and moth's colors aren't as bright. Moths may also be indicators of forest health but are not currently being studied as such.

This is a snapshot of a moth who joined us one evening in the internet hut - you can see the size compared to my hand. You can also see from these photos how the colors of moths are not as vibrant.

This last photo shows how a moth might mimic another insect in order to ward off predators - this one shows a moth that largely resembles a wasp or bee. Notice the transparency of the wings - pretty awesome, huh?