Butterflies and Moths up Close!

Butterflies and Moths Up Close!

Butterflies and moths comprise a group of insects named Lepidoptera. Lepido- means scaly and -ptera wing, so they are literally named the scaly winged insects. If you were to draw a family tree of every scaly winged insect in the world one branch on the tree would include all of the butterflies, with everything else being a moth.

monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) luna moth (Actias luna)

Here we have two specimens, a monarch butterfly on the left and a luna moth on the right. We’re going to take a closer look at their wings, heads, and antennae to explore their similarities and differences, but first let’s observe each as a whole. What do you notice about them? Write or draw your observations below.

Monarch Luna Moth

monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) wing luna moth (Actias luna) wing

Here we have a close-up image of the forewings of each specimen. Now you can clearly see how butterflies and moths got their name Lepidoptera. The wings of both moths and butterflies are covered with colorful tiny scales. The arrangement of these scales is what give butterflies and moths their elaborate patterns. What colors do you notice on each wing? Could you see every color before looking at these wings up close?

You may notice a small area of the luna moth wing where scales are missing. Luna moths belong to the family Saturniidae, the royal silk moths. These moths have a small transparent (clear) window on each wing due to the lack of scales there.

Let's create our own wing pattern! Color or shade in the scales below to make your own unique creation.

monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) head luna moth (Actias luna) head

Here we can see the heads of both our specimens. The head is where you can find an insect's eyes, antennae, and mouth. We will take a closer look at the antennae, for now focus on the eyes and the mouth. Both of these specimens have two large compound eyes, and most butterflies and moths have long straw-like mouthparts called a proboscis. The monarch butterfly has its proboscis curled up and tucked away. Can you find any mouth parts on the moth? If you can’t, do not fret because it doesn’t have one! While most moths do have a proboscis, those of the royal silk moth family do not. They have to do all of their eating as a caterpillar because after that, they’re done eating for the rest of their lives.

What do you think a butterfly eats? Remember butterflies drink through a straw-like mouth part, called a proboscis. Think of three sweet things that a butterfly might drink with their proboscis and write them below. Hint: Butterflies often visit flowers, what sweet treat may they provide?

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Were you able to figure out what a butterfly eats? Scan the code for the answer!

monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) antenna luna moth (Actias luna) antenna

All insects have a pair of antennae attached to their heads. They come in all shapes and sizes depending on the kind of insect. Antennae are the best way to tell butterflies and moths apart. Almost all butterflies have what are called clubbed antennae. You can see the monarch butterfly antenna on the left is long and thin until it thickens into a club shape towards the end. Moths, on the other hand, have many different kinds of antennae. They can be thick, thin, or even feathery like the luna moth pictured on the right, but they are never clubbed.

Now that we’ve explored what antennae look like, are you wondering what they do? They are sensory organs that help insects observe their surroundings. Insects can use their antennae to smell, taste, touch, and sense vibrations. Butterflies are also able to taste using their feet!

How does this compare to how you sense the world around them? Compare yourself to the butterfly below! Fill in the chart to compare the human and butterflies body parts associated with each sense.

Sense Butterfly Body Part used... Human Body Part used...

Smell Antennae

Taste Antennae, proboscis, feet

Sight Compound eyes

Touch Antennae, legs