Melissa Stewart - Butterfly or Moth?

Animal Look-Alikes

How can you tell a butterfly from a moth? What is the difference? Find all the tips and hints you need to tell these two animals apart!

"Fun and informative! These books celebrate the delightful differences between animals that seem similar, and invite young readers to learn the important clues that tell them apart."

"Beginning readers will be fascinated with these fact-filled and easy-to-read books."

Note to Parents and Teachers

The Which Animal Is Which? series supports the National Science Education Standards for K4 science. The Words to Know section introduces subject-specific vocabulary words, including pronunciation and definitions. Early readers may need help with these new words.

About the Author

Trained as both a scientist and journalist, Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 100 books for young readers. While gathering information for her books, Melissa has explored tropical forests in Costa Rica, gone on safari in Kenya and Tanzania, and swum with sea lions in the Galpagos Islands.

antennae (an TEN ee)Two structures on the head of insects and some other animals. They help animals sense the world around them.

chrysalis (KRIS uh liss)The hard outer skin on a butterfly pupa.

cocoon (kuh KOON)The silky case spun by a moth caterpillar. The moth pupa lives in it while it changes into an adult insect.

insect (IN sekt)An animal with three body parts and six legs. Most insects have two pairs of wings.

predator (PREH duh tur)An animal that hunts and kills other animals for food.

pupa (PYOO puh)The third part in the life cycle of some insects. A pupa changes into an adult.

scale (skayl)One of the thin, flat, skinlike plates that cover the wings of butterflies and moths.

Which of these insects is a butterfly? Which one is a moth? Do you know?

Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly

A butterfly has two antennae for smelling. They are long and thin. Each one has a round knob on the end.

Eggar moth

A moth's antennae are short and feathery. They help a moth smell and fly.

Ulysses butterfly

Most butterflies fly during the day. They rest at night.

Spurge hawk moth

Most moths fly at night. They rest during the day.

High brown fritillary butterfly scales

A butterfly has a thin, smooth coat of scales on its wings.

Luna moth wing

A moth has a thick, fuzzy coat of scales. The thick coat helps the moth stay warm at night.

Birdwing butterfly

A butterfly rests with its wings closed. On cool mornings, a butterfly spreads its wings to soak up sunlight.

Melanic peppered moth

A moth rests with its wings open.

Common bluebottle butterfly

Most butterflies have bright wings. The colors can attract mates. They can help the butterfly blend in with flowers. They can even warn predators to stay away.

Tau emperor moth

Most moths are brown or gray. Their dull colors help them hide while they rest during the day.

Monarch butterfly chrysalis

A butterfly has four parts to its life cycle. They are egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult. A pupa hangs from a branch or a stem. A hard skin called a chrysalis protects it.

Polyphemus moth cocoon

A moth has four life stages, too. A moth pupa usually lies on or under the ground. A cocoon of silk surrounds it.

It's a butterfly!