---
title: "Comparison of butterflies and moths"
chunk: 2/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_butterflies_and_moths"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T03:35:59.785874+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

=== Eye types ===
Despite appearances, butterflies and moths have different types of compound eyes. Though not universal, moths very commonly have superposition eyes, while butterflies equally commonly favour apposition eyes. This is due to the superposition eye's adaptations for low light environments suiting the nocturnal moths, and the apposition eye's superior resolution and potential for colour vision benefiting the more diurnal butterflies.
There are several exceptions to this rule, such as with the diurnal Zygaenidae and Sytomidae families of moths, both of which have apposition eyes, or the Hedyloidea family of butterflies, which are nocturnal and feature superposition eyes. In most cases where one species is found to be using the opposite type of eye than expected, it is because they are active during the opposite time of day than is normal for other butterflies or moths.

== Behavioural differences ==

=== Time of activity ===
Most moths are nocturnal or crepuscular while most butterflies are diurnal. There are however exceptions, including the spectacular Uraniidae or sunset moths. A few species, such as the male European/North American spongy moth, fly during both day and night in search of the females, which are flightless.

=== Resting posture ===
Moths usually rest with their wings spread out to their sides. Butterflies frequently fold their wings above their backs when they are perched although they will occasionally "bask" with their wings spread for short periods (several types of Swallowtail butterflies tend to frequently rest with their wings spread when in sunlight). However, some butterflies, like the skippers, may hold their wings either flat, or folded, or even in-between (the so-called "jet plane" position) when perched.

Most moths also occasionally fold their wings above their backs when there is no room to fully spread their wings.
A sometimes confusing family can be the Geometridae (such as the winter moth) because the adults often rest with their wings folded vertically.  These moths have thin bodies and large wings like many butterflies but may be distinguished easily by structural differences in their antennae (e.g. bipectinate).

=== Examples of exceptions to the general moth/butterfly distinctions ===

== Online ==
Wilkes, Benjamin (1749) The English moths and butterflies

== References ==