Moths v. Butterflies
Moths and Butterflies are often confused, but no more! Read on to become an expert.
Moths
Active at night
Dull colors
Wings rest open
Feathered antennae
Thick furry body
Makes a cocoon for metamorphosis
You’ve probably noticed moths by your porch light at night, but if you want to see a good sampling of moths in your area- try moth sugaring!
Sugaring is a fun way to attract moths. You paint a sugar mixture onto tree trunks, fence posts, and stumps at dusk. The moth sugar should have a strong odor and sweet taste. (Example Recipe: brown sugar, overripe fruit like banana, molasses, honey, soda) There should be enough moth sugar in your jar to paint with, but beware of drips. Go back in the dark with a flashlight to study the moths!
Butterflies
Active during the day
Bright colors
Wings rest together closed
Knobbed antennae
Thin body
Makes a chrysalis for metamorphosis
You’ve probably noticed butterflies on flowers near your house, to attract more butterflies and create an inviting livable space for them- create a butterfly garden! Learn more tomorrow.
Some butterflies actually prefer fruit over flowers. Use extra ripe and juicy fruits to attract butterflies to your yard. Change fruit daily, to avoid attracting unwanted critters. To keep ants away, create a moat around the fruit.
Subscribe to gain access to our FREE downloadable PDFs to use with your kiddos:
Use our Butterflies & Moth Literacy PDF to compare and contrast butterflies and moths to build comprehension skills, research skills, observation skills, and recording skills.
The ‘What is more common?’ PDF can be used to build math skills like tallying, counting, and comparing while also applying new knowledge of the differences between moths and butterflies.
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