from Wikimedia Commons

7 August 2025

Today a quiz that you face every day during Bug Season: Is this a Moth or a Butterfly?

These 11 photographs are moths and butterflies from Wikimedia Commons. The experts among you will be able to identify the species, but not all of them because some are from other continents and some have no location description. If you click on the caption links you’ll see the original photo with description … BUT … some of the descriptions are mislabeled.

Clues to help you:

• Antennae: Feathery (moths) vs Knobs (butterflies) … and then there are skippers
• Flying: Night vs Day: some photo backgrounds give a clue.
• Wing Position At Rest –> see this photo … And then there are skippers.

Need help? Check out this vintage article: How Do You Know It’s A Moth? and Wikipedia’s Comparison of butterflies and moths.

Try the Quiz: “Moth? or Butterfly?” Don’t forget to identify the top photo. I’ll post answers later today.

from Wikimedia Commons

from Wikimedia Commons

from Wikimedia Commons

from Wikimedia Commons

from Wikimedia Commons

from Wikimedia Commons

from Wikimedia Commons

from Wikimedia Commons

from Wikimedia Commons