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DIFFERENCES butterflies and moths


DIFFERENCES butterflies and moths
Photo Information
Copyright: Krzysztof Pabis (cataclysta) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 665 W: 111 N: 1474] (4495)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06
Categories: Insects
Camera: Olympus C-8080 WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-09-10 3:04
Viewed: 677
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BUTTERFLIES SKIPPERS AND MOTHS


There are many photos of butterflies and moths on treknature. There are also many different notes. Names like moth are used often as opposite to a butterfly and skippers are somewhere in the middle. Butterflies, skippers and moths are all member of one insect order (Lepidoptera). There are also some identification problems (but this is a rare thing) That is why I want to do a presentation about differences and similarities between this three groups.

The only new photo here is a moth photo so please if you wan to judge the photos please concentrate on the moth and the note I decided to do this compilation only for the informational reasons because some characters are clearly visible on those shots and now it is possible to see it on one image.


The division of Lepidoptera into moths and butterflies is a popular taxonomy, not a scientific one. Sometimes the names Rhopalocera (which includes Papilionoidea (true butterfiles), Hesperiidae (skippers), and Hedylidae) and Heterocera (moths) are used to formalize the popular distinction. Many attempts have been made to subdivide the Lepidoptera into groups such as the Microlepidoptera and Macrolepidoptera (small and big moths), Frenatae and Jugatae (different type of wing connection: frenulum (most of moths) or jugum (Hepialidae)) Monotrysia and Ditrysia (female copulatory organs) Homoneura and Heteroneura (wing venation).

There are problems with all this classifications (they do not reflect the real and truth relationships and relations in order Lepidoptera)

Often those divisions overlapped on each other. There also problems like for example family Cossidae (very big moths) which are placed in Microlepidoptera and some Noctuidae which are Macrolepidoptera are very small.


Apart of the big taxonomic problems (the scientist are still arguing about the proper Lepidoptera classification) there are of course obvious differences between butterflies and moths. We can use those classification but we have to remember that the real situation is more complicated.


Moths
Diurnal activity: Mostly active during the night (but there are also day flying species)

Body shape: often thick or very thick, massive and hairy abdomens and bodies with relatively small head (but many families [not only very small moths] like Geometridae have slender, thin bodies)

Wings: different shapes and surfaces

Wings in resting position: along the body (PHOTO 1)

Antennas: different types of antennas 1. straight (often very thin) without the club at the end, 2. Feather like (females) 3. Rarely clubbed or similar to a club (For example Zygaenidae)

Wings connection: wings are connected with a frenulum (bristle present at the root of the hindwing of most (but not all) moths which engages with a small hook on the forewing to join the wings together.) or jugum (in family Hepialidae)


Butterflies
Diurnal activity: only day time

Body shape: thin abdomen and rest of the body (remember about proportions)

Wings: relatively big surface of wings (PHOTO 4)

Wings in resting position: straight up above the body (PHOTO 2)

Antennas: straight and clubbed at the end

Wings connection: wings are linked with two relatively big surfaces at the base of first and second pair of wings

Skippers
Diurnal activity: only day time

Body shape: relatively thick abdomen and big massive head

Wings: small surface, first pair triangle in shape

Wings in resting position: special position characteristic only for skippers with second pair wide open and first pair closed like in butterfies (PHOTO 3)

Antennas: straight hooked at the end

Wings connection: wings are linked with two relatively big surfaces on the base of firs and second pair of wings
red45, claudine, pvs, phlr, Argus, Silvio2006, go2stones, marhowie, eqshannon, Juyona, ramthakur, nainnain, TAZ, cicindela, anel, snowfalken, tiklod, earthtraveler has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2831 W: 75 N: 8025] (26865)
  • [2007-09-10 3:44]

Czesc Krzysiu!

Swietna prezentacja i jeszcze lepsza notka. Ze zdjec najbardziej podoba mi sie skipper. Ma pieknie nasycone kolory i bardzo ciekawa poze. A co tam slychac w taksonomii? Czy obecnie nie zaczyna sie stosowac sie w coraz wiekszym stopniu genetyki do okreslania przynaleznosci do poszczegolnych jednostek?

Hello Krzysztof,
Each picture is a little work of art with plenty of beautiful details, great pastel colors and lovely composition. Your notes are also very interesting and well documented. Even if many people explained to me how to make a montage like this, I am still not able... I have to find time to practice. This is a beautiful collage, congrats!
Claudine

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1149 W: 254 N: 2555] (11569)
  • [2007-09-10 6:10]

Hello Krzysztof,

A nice an colorfull composition,each of the 4 is a quality capture,well captured and accompagnied with an informative note,great work and tfs

Paul

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 110 W: 60 N: 217] (1873)
  • [2007-09-10 6:47]

Witam,
Troche podksztalcilem sie w tej dziedzinie z tej notatki bardzo pomocnej dla mnie, a zdjecia uzupelniaja opisy.
Pozdrawiam, Pawel

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2470 W: 168 N: 7478] (23630)
  • [2007-09-10 7:09]

Hello Krzys,
Very fine presentation of butterflies and moths and I like your note although this is a very big subject! The moths differ so much in size and looks (e.g. compare Oleander Hawkmoth and the little Nettle-tap moth!!) and there are quite a few day flying species.
I wish more people took an interest because they are truly fascinating.
I like your capture of the Fox moth, Macrothylacia rubi, the hairy larva of which we often stumble across here.
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
  • [2007-09-10 7:53]

Hello Krzysztof,
Educational postings form the core TN: we are after all mambers to learn through photography, not only about taking better pictures, but about nature. So this is entirely within the spirit of TN.
The three butterfly, and one moth image are all sharp and of high technical quality, especially the image of the female Small Skipper.
Well done and TFS!
Have a good week,
Ivan

bonjour krzysztof
voila une belle composition les quatres vues de ces diferrents papillons sont tres belles et reussies.nettes et joliement coloré.
laurent

Hi Krzysztof, great collage very expliative with an interesting note, great quality of single picuture with splendiod sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi,
Very nice shots and informative note.
Great images and composition.
TFS,
Iulian

Very good collage, my friend,
I like every single one, excellent together.
Bye and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Thanks for the information about the differences in the butterflies and moths. I like the moth image on the fern leaves. Everything is sort of in one dimension. Nice and sharp. Well done.

TFS!
Reid

Very nice way to present..and so official looking with descriptions and all.
Bob

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2043 W: 6 N: 2025] (13279)
  • [2007-09-10 18:48]

Hola amigo,
un bello trabajo,
precioso collage y finos detalles,
agradable pov.
saludos

Hi Krzysztof,
Bravo. Well done a very educative collage with a beautiful note. All the individual captures are very nice. Well done. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hola Krzy, no entro en detalles entomológicos jeje. Las tomas preciosas y un buen formato de presentación. En las cuatro unos enfoques precisos y buena profundidad.
Saludos: J. Ignasi

Excellent presentation with exemplary notes Chris..A great work.
Very well done!!
Howard

Each one of these pictures is a treat for the eyes, Krzysztof.
The Skipper in particular is very well delineated.
Thanks for sharing this lovely collage and best regards.

HI Krzysztof ,

A perfect mosaic of perfect individual images, the moth is especially too good, though i ain't equipped myself to help resolve ur predicament.

TFS
CoolNik

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-09-11 10:51]

Hello Krzysztof

A well composed montage of these beautiful butterflies.The colours are well saturated and bright.The focus is very good with excellent sharpness.Nicely done.TFS
Rob

hello
bien vu cette composition , il faut que je m'habitue a faire ce genre de montage.
les couleurs sont parfaites, bravo mon ami et encore merci de ton aide
bien a toi
edith

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2007-09-12 2:44]

Bonjour Krzysztof,
You offer us a beautiful and instructive collage and it is well completed by a useful note, in the good spirit of TN !
Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
Christian

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2007-09-12 4:33]

Hi Krzysztof,
Fantastic collage of these beautiful butterflies and moths. Each shot looks wonderful with lovely colours and sharp details. The lighting and poses are well presented and very informative notes to go along. Excellent POVs and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  •      
  • gerhardt Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2225 W: 268 N: 4166] (11529)
  • [2007-09-12 22:40]

Excellent note and supporting photos. True TN stuff very well done. If I still gave point I would have given you 10. :)

Witam Pana! ;>
No niezle, takiej prezentacji zdecydowanie brakowalo na TN! Krotko, zwiezle i na temat! Czego wiecej chciec :) A do tego mile dla oka fotki, dobrze doswietlone, z dobra glebia i ostroscia. Nic tylko pogratulowac pomyslu no i wykonania :)
Pozdrawiam,
RJ

Hi Chris,
A different combination of images & pretty good notes!!!

TFS.
Sudhakar.

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 0 N: 1980] (8407)
  • [2007-09-13 4:56]

Hello Krzysztof,
Very didactic and beautiful assemblage. Excellent idea to show it like that in a very clear way. The pictures are of good level too. This is a most interesting posting.
Thanks for it.
Best regards
Anne

Hello Krzysztof,

I especially marked this picture because I didn't want to miss it. I wanted to tell you that this is one of the most educative notes here on TN! You approached a difficult subject and I'm sure this was welcome for all butterfly/moth/skipper lovers. I haven't done much research in this field and am not a biologist whatsoever but for me this information was extremely useful. Thank you!
The moth in your collage is beautifully rendered but comparing with the other three pictures it has the lowest contrast. Otherwise it's a fine representation of a moth that I don't know and it suits the educational purpose very well. Once again, I can't stress enough how useful I found your notes! TFS!

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie

Hi Chris,
EXCELLENT FRAME! Very intresting comments and tips. Your four species are really well done, sharp and colourful.
Thanks for sharing...

Claude

Hello Krzyztof,
Fine compilation and note of moth and butterfly differences.
The top left moth image looks like a tad more contrast would improve it. Besides that they all look great.
Well done and TFS
Richard

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