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Moths and Butterflies: What’s the Difference?

They may belong to the same insect family, but there's a lot that sets them apart. Here's a quick guide
Text by: Nisarg Prakash Design by: Diviya Mehra
Updated   May 27, 2026
Text by: Nisarg Prakash Design by: Diviya Mehra
Updated   May 27, 2026
1 min read
They may belong to the same insect family, but there's a lot that sets them apart. Here's a quick guide
Listen Listen to this article 15:34 min

How are moths and butterflies different from each other?

Both moths and butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera however there are some key differences. Moths are usually dull coloured with feathery antennae, meanwhile butterflies are usually vividly coloured, bright and have club-tipped antennae. While resting, the wings of moths are either draped down their backs or held spread out to the side; but in the case of butterflies, their wings are upright and perpendicular to their backs unless warming in the sun. 

What are skippers? 

Skippers are in between moths and butterflies. They have stockier bodies and hold their wings in an intermediate position, angled to the body. 

How many species of moths and butterflies are there? 

There are 1,60,000 species of moths and 17,500 species of butterflies.

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