Butterfly facts including butterfly vs moth Animal Fact Files

There are somewhere around 18,000 living butterfly species. While they are closely related to moths and often appear quite similar, there are some marks to look for that set these animals apart. Moths are usually nocturnal, have fuzzy antennae, and rest with their wings open while butterflies are nocturnal, have smooth, clubbed antennae, and rest with their wings closed. Butterflies can be found just about anywhere in the world apart from Antarctica and some oceanic islands. They inhabit just about anywhere with adequate food supply. Most butterflies are herbivores!

Scientific Name: Superfamily - Papilionoidea
Range: worldwide except Antarctica and some oceanic islands
Size: less than 0.5 inches (12.7mm) to more than 9 inches (22.86cm)
Diet: mostly plant material (leaves and foliage as larvae; nectar as well as dung, carrion, etc. as adults)
Lifespan: typically a year or less as an adult