| Dereila Nature Inn Home > Woodlands Pathway > The Bug World > Guide to Bugs > Lepidoptera |
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Lepidoptera - Butterflies and Moths |
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The most loved insects in the world - the colourfly butterflies, skippers and moths belong to this order. Lepidoptera means comes from the Greek word "lepido" which means scales and "ptera" meaning wings as they have what looks like scales on all four of their wings. The scales are actually tiny flat hairs which create the dazzling colours and patterns.
Identifying the difference between a butterfly and a moth can sometimes be a little tricky, but here are some pointers:
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Butterflies usually are seen during the day whereas most moths are night flyers |
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When butterflies land they hold their wings close together while moths spread out their wings or curl them around their bodies. |
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Moths have feathery or straight antennae; butterflies meanwhile have knobs on the ends |
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| The Butterflies |
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Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon |
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Western Tiger Swallowtail
Pterourus rutulus |
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Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui |
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Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus |
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The Moths |
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Plume Moth |
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Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth
Malacosoma disstria |
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Large Yellow Underwing Moth
Noctua pronuba |
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Celery Leaftier Moth
Udea rubigalis |
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Small Magpie Moth
Eurrhypara hortulata |
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Cerisy's Sphinx Moth
Smerinthus cerisyi |
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Cinnabar Moth
Tyria jacobaeae |
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Emerald Moth
Hemithea aestivaria. |
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Links at the Inn: Anise Swallowtail Butterflies | Butterflies and Moths Photo Gallery
Bugs of the Month: Small Magpie Moth | Western Brown Elfin | One-Eyed Sphinx Moth | Woodland Skipper | |
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| Dereila Nature Inn Home > Woodlands Pathway > The Bug World > Guide to Bugs > Lepidoptera |
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