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Butterflies V.S. Moths

1) Bug Quiz Answers

a. Skipper Butterfly (Hesperiidae)

b. Swallowtail Moth (Uraniidae)

c. Castniid Moth (Castniidae)

d. Sesiid Moth (Sesiidae)

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2) Generally, how to tell butterflies from moth.

Please remember there are about 180,000 spp of Lepidoptera (butterflies

and moths) so nothing is super hashed out.

a. Antennae

b. Brush footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) look like they only have 4 legs.

The front two legs are much smaller, tucked up, and modified for

cleaning the tongue

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3) How are Butterflies and Moths Related?

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a. The relatedness of butterflies and moths has been widely disputed b. Previously “butterflies” left out groups that should (probably) still be

included i. For example – the family Hedylidae (American Moth Butterflies)

c. Butterflies now include the following families A. Hedylidae (American Moth Butterflies) B. Hesperiidae (Skippers) C. Lycaenidae (Hairstreaks) D. Nymphalidae (Brush Footed Butterflies) E. Papilionidae (Swallowtail Butterflies) F. Pieridae (Whites, Sulphurs, Pheobes) G. Riodinidae (Metalmarks) H.

Photo Credit: Nancy Miorelli, James Sullivan (Hedylidae)

References:

Mitter C. et al. 2017. Phylogeny and Evolution of Lepidoptera. Annual Review of Entomology 62: 265-283

Whalberg et al. 2005. Synergenic effects of combining morphological and molecular data in resolving phylogeny of

butterflies and skippers.