BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS
Lepidopterology is the study of butterflies and moths.
Butterflies and moths are not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Scottish wildlife, but take more notice and it is amazing what may find here in West Dunbartonshire. Perhaps we don't notice them very often because they are in disguise.
Butterflies and moths change shape and form through its life cycle in a magic yet complex series of biological processes from caterpillars to adult butterflies.
So what is the difference between a butterly and a moth?
They are both Lepidoptera. The actual differences are blurred through misconecptions. It has little or nothuig to do with colour or what time of day or night they come out or their furriness. To really simplify it : Butterflies have clubbed antennae, and moths do not.
To confuse us further, we may well be seeing them in their egg, larvae or chrysallis (pupa) stages even before they flutter about our gardens or other open spaces. So, before you squish that grub, take a moment to consider what it is about to turn into.
A caterpillar is the larval stage of a moth or butterfly. It is the second part of their four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult.
If you want a more technical answer, then it is recommended that you refer to online sources such as those below.
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION website : Everything you need to know about butterflies and moths including excellent means of identification.
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION website:
https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies
https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths
BUTTERFLY IDENTIFICATION : This website illustrates the life cycle. https://www.butterflyidentification.com/butterfly-facts/life-cycle-of-a-butterfly?utm_content=cmp-true
SCOTTISH WILDLIFE TRUST : https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2017/04/how-to-identify-white-butterflies/#:~:text=In%20the%20UK%20there%20are%20four%20common%20white,by%20the%20bright%20orange%20tips%20of%20its%20forewings.
THE GARDEN JUNGLE or Gardening to Save the Planet. Dave Goulson. Vintage books. 2019, ISBN 9781529116281.
SUFFOLK MOTHS : https://suffolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=12420
UK MOTHS : An excellent guide to identification of moths : https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/
WIKIPEDIA : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_butterflies_and_moths and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthocharis_cardamines
WILDLIFE TRUSTS : How to identify caterpillars: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/identify-caterpillars
