Moths 101

After lots of designing, photographing, and even some butterfly-catching, I’ve finished it: the newest version of my brochure, “Butterflies and Moths of Fort St John” - and I’m so excited, I had to post about it!

Moths are diverse, often overlooked critters that are about 400 species strong in British Columbia. Obviously, my one-page brochure can’t cover all the species in our area; but it gives a starting point to work with.

Scientists classify both butterflies and moths as Lepidoptera. Both have the same life cycle, wings with tiny scales, and a curling proboscis for sipping liquids (except the moths that don’t eat, which often don’t even have mouths!).

So: what is the difference between a butterfly and a moth, anyways?

After some mutterings about colour, time of wakefulness, antennae shape, and little apperati on the wings - all rules broken by some moth or butterfly somewhere - entomologists appear to throw up their hands and conclude, “It’s just a linguistic difference.” In other words, butterflies and moths are different in the way that locusts and grasshoppers are different. It’s just a fancy name change.

You can read more about my work with moths by clicking here!

I will be having the design professionally printed, hopefully before the month is over.