Butterflies vs. Moths

How do you tell a moth from a butterfly? In distinguishing butterflies from moths, there are some generalities you can follow to figure out what sort of lepidoptera you are viewing. Obviously, there are exceptions to almost every rule but if the specimen you are watching meets several criteria for moth or butterfly, you can be fairly safe in your assumption.

Day vs. Night: Most butterflies are diurnal and fly during the day. Most moths are nocturnal and fly all night and during transition periods like dusk and dawn.

Colors: Many butterflies have brightly colored wings. Many moths have more drab colored wings.

Different Antennae: Butterfly antenna are slender and have club shaped tips. Moths have tapered or wide feathery antenna that do not have club shaped tips

How they Fold Their Wings: When at rest most butterflies hold their wings folded together vertically over their bodies. Butterflies have brighter colors on the tops of their wings and duller colors on the underside. Moths rest with their wings extended, wrapped around their bodies or pressed against the support on which they are resting. Moth moths have dull colors on the upper side of their wings.

Warming Up: Butterflies often warm their bodies by basking in the sun and absorbing solar radiation. Moths fly at night and have no access to solar radiation. Many moths with shiver their wings, which causes their flight muscles to heat up and provide warmth for their bodies.

Body Shape and Scales: Butterflies tend to have slender bodies in comparison to their wings. Their scales are pressed tightly against their wings forming a smooth surface. Many moths have stout bodies and their scales give them a furry appearance on their wings and bodies.

Sense of Smell: Butterflies “smell” with sensory organs in their feet and also with their antenna. Moths “smell” with their antenna.

Wing Movement: Butterflies have 4 wings that can move independently of each other. Moths have four wings but they are linked together and the fore and hind wing move as a set. The wings are linked by a bristle on the hind-wing (frenulum) and hook on the forewing (retinaculum) that keep the two wings moving as a unit.

Moths are More Numerous: There are over 700 species of butterflies north of Mexico. In the same area there are ten times that number of moth species which are far more diverse in form, structure and choice of food plants.

Specialist vs. Generalist: Most butterflies are specialists when it comes to host plants and will usually only consume a small group of closely related plants. Many moths are able to consume a much broader range of host plants.

Winter in Tampa

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In 1997 I moved to Florida from Pennsylvania. Once upon a time I dreaded this time of year when crisp autumn would retreat and the slate grey skies would begin to threaten snow.

In Tampa, I take joy in my own version of early winter white by planting snowy white flowers that will bloom through the cooler seasons. Here is a selection of some of the wintery white blossoms that can be found blooming in the MOSI gardens.

If you read this and you are somewhere cold, then this post goes out to you.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

A winter population of butterflies is really hard to upkeep, especially after several nights of freezing temperatures. There are fewer butterflies in the Flight Encounter and those that remain will not fly until the temperature rises. They will remain all day, stock still on the same leaf or flower if the temperature remains too low.

Sort of Cold Blooded: Surviving over winter is tough for butterflies since they are poikilotherms (of varying temperature) and are very much subject to outdoor temperatures. Butterflies and moths have some small ways they can help control their temperature like shivering their flight muscles to provide some warmth, but they are still very much subject to cold temperatures which make them sluggish or torpid.

Butterflies bask in sunlight and allow the solar radiation to warm the haemolymph (circulatory fluid of certain invertebrates) that runs through the veins in their wings, basically using their wings like solar panels. Basking with the addition of shivering can raise the temperature of a monarch so that it can fly even though external temperatures might be prohibitive.

The article Thoracic temperature, shivering, and flight in the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus (L.) from The Journal of Comparative Physiology (April, 1970) showed that a monarch butterfly shivering its wings at 59 to 60 degrees Celsius could raise its temperature at 1.3 degrees Celsius/minute reaching a thoratic temperature of 4 degrees Celsius greater than ambient temperature. At higher temperatures the butterflies could warm themselves faster and to an even greater temperature above ambient.

Let’s Get Away: Some butterflies will migrate to warmer areas in the winter, like the well described migration of monarchs to forests of Mexico. Here in peninsular Florida we are a winter destination for several species of butterflies. The Gulf Fritillary and Long Tailed Skipper overwinter in southern Florida and the Buckeye and Cloudless Sulphur migrate to southeastern states for the duration of the cold season. These butterflies may overwinter as adults using man-made or natural crevice type structures in which to hibernate and shelter.

Several years ago I attended a butterfly field lecture in Gainesville given by Dr. Jaret Daniels. During the course of the walk our group saw hundreds of Gulf Fritillary butterflies flying south along a power line cut near the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. The butterflies flew fairly low to the ground and occasionally stopped for nectaring but they all continued on to points south and did not linger in north Florida.

Diapause: Some butterflies in various stages of development utilize diapause to overwinter. Diapause is a state of dormancy in which all development is suspended. Unlike hibernation where development and metabolism still occur at a slower rate, during diapause all cellular growth stops causing complete dormancy.

Triggered by a number of factors including length of daylight hours, temperature and possibly even the angle of sunlight which may indicate the approach of unfavorable conditions a butterfly may enter into the state of diapause.

A pupa entering diapause will cease development and the metamorphosis of the insect inside will halt until conditions become more favorable to the survival of the insect. The only energy used upkeeps the integrity of cells from breaking down, but does not cause cells to change, reproduce, or grow. A caterpillar in diapause will cease eating, growing, shedding or burning food-fuel that has been stored. They basically just stop.

Diapause is a true suspended animation. Check out more on diapause: Diapause research foundation and Longest Diapause among insects from IFAS

Clothing Eating Insects

In the winter months there is often a fear that moths will begin eating their way through clothing stored in closets and drawers.

There are several pest species of moth and a few species of beetles that are the most likely culprits for damage to clothing, carpets and furniture. These species eat clothing and fabrics with natural fibers that contain the protein Keratin. Keratin is a chief component protein found in hair, fingernails and skin but is also found in feathers, horn, hoofs, leather, wool, silk and other animal products. Taxidermies like mounted animal heads and birds are also covered in keratin based fur, hair and feathers.

Utilizing good housekeeping techniques and being vigilant in looking for infestations will help you to keep your belongings in good shape for future use.

Webbing Clothes Moth (Tineola bisselliella) This species is a small adult moth with a wingspan of about 1/2 inch that is native to Eurasia but has spread to many locations with human inhabitation. The Webbing Clothes Moth has been found in all 50 states but is less likely to occur in very dry areas. Larvae of this species feed on keratin containing fabrics such as furs, wool and silk.

These moths are particularly drawn to woolens and silks stained with oils from the human body, human sweat, hair, urine, beer, tomato, soft drinks or milk. These products, even in trace amounts, contain nutrients and vitamins that help the larva grow. Clothing infested with Webbing Clothes Moths will have a network of silken fibers or webbing over the surface of the fabric.

Adult moths are more abundant in warmer months. This species and other types of clothes moth are not attracted to light and prefer dark attics and deep closets.

The Case-Making Clothes Moth (Tinea pellionella) originated in Europe but can be found in North America and Australia. This species is less common than the Webbing Clothes Moth.

The larvae of this species make small hardened cases that they pull along with them similar to a snail in a shell. Larvae will retreat into their cases when threatened. In addition to woolens, silks, furs, feathers and other natural fabrics this species will also feed on old bird nests (especially pigeon nests), cobwebs, wallpapers and stored vegetable produce.

Carpet or Tapestry Moth (Trichophaga tapetzella) This species is the least common of the clothes moths and reproduces in lower numbers with females laying only 60-1090 eggs in their lifetime. Antique tapestries and carpets have been known to be infested by the Tapestry Moth.

This species thrives especially in places with high humidity such as with tapestries hung on a damp wall or items stored in non-climate controlled structures.

Carpet Beetles: The Furniture Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus flavipes), Common Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus scrophulariae), Black Carpet Beetle (Attagenus unicolor) and Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) are a selection of vary small pest beetles also known to consume natural fibers containing keratin. These species are especially found hosting on woolen rugs and upholstery. IFAS offers an excellent guide to identifying and controlling carpet beetles.

Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) are ancient insects that eat sugars, starches and also keratin based items like hair and woolen fabric. Silverfish will also consume paper, sugar, photos, clothing, and tapestry.

Avoiding the problem- An Ounce of Prevention: Clothes moths are especially drawn to natural fabrics that are stored for long periods in dark spaces. These species can survive in very small spaces and are able to access tiny cracks in corners and small spaces under baseboards. To avoid these species start with good housekeeping and be vigilant with checking in on your stored belogings.

• Store your natural fabrics after they have been properly cleaned. Dry cleaning will destroy moths and moth eggs that may be resident on natural fabrics. Cold storage will also prevent moth eggs from hatching and kill larvae.
• Use a vacuum with good suction on carpets and baseboards in closets where clothing is stored. Also vacuum the walls and any places with crevices where moths may be resident.
• Store natural fabrics in a clean, airtight containers or storage bags.
• Check on your stored items every so often to check for damage. This will help to catch an infestation in the early stages.
• Store very valuable fur and natural fabric items like wool rugs in a professional cold vault.
• Avoid storing discarded feather filled pillows, comforters, carpet pieces or old clothing. If you won’t have a future use for an item, find it a new home.
• Store moth traps along with your stored natural fabrics and check these traps regularly. This will help you detect infestations before they get out of control.
• Take items out of storage and air them out, sun them and brush them clean. This will help items in long term storage remain clean of dust and debris that might be attractive to pests.
• Storing items in a cedar chest is helpful but not 100% effective. Retreat the wood with an application of cedar oil every two years and make sure that the chest or closet has a tight fitting door or lid.
• Use and rotate stored items regularly. Items taken out of storage, used and cleaned properly before being stored again are very unlikely to be subject to moth infestation.
• If you purchase an antique or used taxidermy, wool rug or natural fiber cloth item, check it over carefully and make sure it is free of clothes moths before you bring it into your home.

Getting Rid of Pest Clothes Moths- A Pound of Cure: Clothing and natural fiber products infested with clothes moths and carpet beetles can be heavily damaged and left with holes of many sizes.

• Cleaning: When you notice a problem, act quickly. Take infested items outside for airing and brushing. Clean them thoroughly to remove moth larva.
• Dry Cleaning: Dry cleaning an infested piece of clothing will kill clothes moths.
• Freezing: A small item can be placed in a bag and placed in a freezer for three full days to kill off larvae and eggs.
• Moth Balls: Moth balls are marketed to be stored with natural fiber items to prevent infestation and also to kill populations of clothes moths. These moth balls are an insecticide and should be used carefully.
• Napthalene moth balls utilize a chemical gas that is repellant to clothes moths. This gas is heavier than air and high concentrations are necessary to deter a population of moths. This means you need a lot of moth balls and a well sealed space to create enough gas to combat clothes moths. Napthalene is dangerous to children and pets and is also flammable. This chemical is carcinogenic.
• Paradichlorobenzene moth balls also evaporate into a heavier-than-air gas that kills moth larvae. As with Napthalene, high concentrations of mothballs and an airtight space are needed to ensure distribution of the gas in concentrations high enough to kill larva. This chemical is a likely carcinogen.
• Insecticides: IFAS has a document that covers the application and use of numerous pesticides prescribed for the treatment of clothes moths and carpet beetles. Pesticides can be very hazardous and should only be used when necessary and according to manufacturer guidelines.
• Professional fumigation and cold treatment: Larger scale or heavier infestation will likely require a professional. Contact a pest treatment company for professional help.

Cocoon

No, these are not alien pods that need to be kept in a pool of water in St Petersburg, Florida.

The Polyphemus Moths have gone to cocoon and we have carefully pinned them to the screens of the moth rearing enclosure for their long winter’s nap.

The Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a member of the Wild Silk Moth (Saturniidae) family. Each cocoon is made of raw silk produced by the salivary glands of the caterpillar. These threads of raw silk have been measured at 300 to 900 meters in length in the domesticated Silkmoth (Bombyx mori ) of China. Inside each silken cocoon is a dark brown to black pupa that contains the insect as it progresses through metamorphosis.

For further camouflage and stability, the Polyphemus moth often incorporate a branch and several leaves into the cocoon which helps to shield the pupa during metamorphosis. These moths will generally overwinter in their pupa and emerge in the spring as adult moths.

What’s in a Name? The Free Dictionary provides several possible etymological roots for the genus Antheraea including

• Medieval Latin anthera, pollen, from Latin, a medicine extracted from flowers,
• Greek, from feminine of antheros, flowery, from anthos, flower.

In Greek mythology the one-eyed Cyclops Polyphemus is the son of Poseidon and is encountered by Odysseus and his band of sailors in Homer’s Odyssey. The moths were given this species epithet in honor of the large eyespot that they bear on their hindwings as adults.

So there you have it, a flowery single-eyed giant in cocoon.

Cassia bicapsularis

Winter Cassia (Cassia bicapsularis) is blooming like mad here at the MOSI gardens. This species is yet another of the plants to bear the irritatingly common name of "Butterfly Bush" that refers to about a dozen unrelated species. This cassia is native to the tropical areas of the Americas and is so named Winter Cassia because it puts on a showy bloom of yellow each winter. When blooming, the Winter Cassia is a mass of eye catching yellow that is sure to turn heads and generate lots of requests for cuttings and seed sharing.

Also an excellent host plant for Sulphur butterflies, this shrub is fast growing but can be kept smaller with judicious pruning. If left, the shrub will develop into a ball of Cassia some 10 feet tall with a similar diameter. Caterpillars hosting on this plant will be green in color most of the year but the larvae will turn bright yellow when consuming the winter flowers. Winter Cassia is host to the Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) and Orange-barred Giant Sulphur (Phoebis philea) which are all seasonally on display at MOSI.

Cassias are vigorous plants that grow rapidly and can become quite unruly, so expect a great deal of pruning if you want to keep this shrub anywhere near dainty. This particular species of cassia is native to South America, but there are plenty of Florida native species around if you prefer gardening with local plants.

This variety of cassia makes an excellent host plant since its very quick growth helps it to recover rapidly from any damage feeding caterpillars may cause. Even with the currently cold temperatures, the cassia is still going strong.

Bartram Specimen Books Online

The Natural History Museum of London has digitized the specimen collections of John and William Bartram collected throughout British East Florida and those collections are now on digital display at the University of Florida website.

Take a look through these collections of plants collected over 200 years ago by the father and son naturalist team as they explored and documented to botany of Florida in 1765 and 1766.

East Florida Book One

East Florida Book Two

You can read more about John and William Bartram here and more about other early botanists who worked or collected in Florida here.

Sassy Frass: A Post about Poo

FRASS: debris or excrement produced by insects

Origin of FRASS: German, insect damage, literally, eating away, from Old High German vrāz food, from frezzan to devour. First Known Use: 1854

-Merriam Webster Dictionary

Caterpillar excreta is known as frass which is a combination of waste product and undigested plant material that has passed through the caterpillar gut.

Frass is a very handy way to identify that caterpillars are at work in your garden and can be one of the easier ways to locate larvae on a plant. If you find frass on the leaves of the plant, try looking on the branches directly above those leaves for the culprit. The shapes of scat of various species differ and are formed by the shape of the caterpillar gut.

Some species of skipper butterfly are capable of "scatapulting" or catapulting their frass away from their body. By pumping up their blood pressure these larva can shoot their poop away from their bodies with some species able to project their dung up to 4.2 feet. This odd behavior may help the caterpillar hide from predators that are attracted by the scent of droppings. Read more about “scatapulting” caterpillars at this National Geographic article.

In an enclosed setting, caterpillar spoor should be cleaned away every day. Wet stool is likely to grow mold which is unhealthy to caterpillars, also bacteria resident in the caterpillar gut may still be lurking in the poo. Caterpillars tiptoeing through the turds can be sickened by contact with mold and bacteria.

On the other hand, butterflies are designed to handle a liquid diet and are extremely efficient at digestion, leaving little behind for waste. Adult butterflies sip liquids through their proboscis and the food passes into the butterfly thorax. There the food is stored in an organ called a crop until it is digested in the midgut. During digestion nutrients from food are either absorbed into the blood or are stored as fats. Any liquid remaining from the process is generally reabsorbed in the rectum otherwise the butterflies may sometimes excrete small amounts of extra fluids.

When butterflies first emerge from chrysalis they excrete a fluid called miconium which is a waste product that builds up inside the pupa during the process of metamorphosis. This fluid causes the butterfly abdomen to appear swollen even after they have pumped up their wings, as shown in the picture of the Pipevine Swallowtail above.

A special tip of the hat to Mike K. who offered up the fun name for this icky little post.