Quebec moths The Quebec moths shown here from the Saturniidae family have no working mouthpieces as adults, and Cobra moth so cannot eat. They survive for four to ten days on Butterflies Go Free the energy reserves they stored up as caterpillars. Two different Attacus atlas experiences - February 16 Cobra moths are easy to recognize because of their like night and day! to April 29 size and the scale-less “windows” in their wings. Thanks to its feathery antennae, a male can detect the odour of a female several kilometres away! Actias selene Like many other moths, a luna has a furry abdomen. These “hairs” are Cecropia moth adult • Hyalophora cecropia actually modified scales that help the insect stay warm. Indian luna moth eggs caterpillar chrysalis in a cocoon Moths protect their chrysalises Owl Caligo memnon in a silken cocoon. Despite its drab colouring, butterfly this is actually a butterfly. How can you tell? Because it has threadlike antennae ending in “clubs,” and closes its wings while at rest. How can you tell To make things even more butterflies and moths apart? confusing, it is active at dusk! Only butterflies have Moths’ bodies are stocky antennae ending in small and furry. Butterflies’ bodies swellings or “clubs.” are slender and relatively smooth. Blinded sphinx moth Creatures of shadow Winged silhouettes flutter busily through the shadows. Without the warmth of Paonias excaecata the sun, moths have to shiver to generate The muted colours of a sphinx moth’s front wings the heat they need to fly about in search help camouflage it against trees during the day. of food and partners. They also have to When a predator appears, the moth opens its wings Butterflies are usually Most butterflies hold their be ready to make a quick escape if a to reveal two showy eyespots, often scaring off its more brightly coloured wings closed above their predator looms out of the darkness. would-be attacker. than moths. bodies while at rest, while moths usually keep them spread. eggs caterpillar chrysalis adult Creatures Butterfly chrysalises are bare. of light Over 80 species of morphos live in the forests of Central and South America. Some are brown or white, When the sun peeks over the horizon, but blue morphos are the most famous, because butterflies spread their beautifully theirs is a rare colour in the animal world. The scales coloured wings to soak up warmth on their wings are actually brownish-grey, but and energy. Then they set out to because of the way their special structure reflects look for food and a partner. Blue beauties light, they appear shiny metallic blue. Dryadula phaetusa Parthenos sylvia Hebomoia glaucippe Danaus plexippus Dryas julia Danaus chrysippus Phoebis argante Papilio thoas Troides rhadamantus Papilio dardanus Cethosia biblis Ideopsis juventa Heliconius melpomene Pachliopta sp. Graphium agamemnon Morpho helenor Please don’t touch the butterflies and moths All our butterflies and moths come from Papilio lowi Papilio rumanzovia Papilio demodocus certified free-trade butterfly farms. Hypolimnas antevorta Montréal Insectarium (L. Desaulniers, R. Limoges, A. Payette), Montréal Botanical Garden (G. Murray, M. Tremblay), D. Dumoulin, A. Sarrazin, S. Schanz, The Amani Butterfly Project. Amani Butterfly The Schanz, S. Sarrazin, A. Dumoulin, D. Tremblay), M. Murray, (G. Montréal Botanical Garden Payette), A. Limoges, R. Desaulniers, (L. Montréal Insectarium Photos: © Photos: Hypolimnas bolina Morpho polyphemus Papilio palinurus Anteos maerula.