All about Moths - Look further into the world of moths - you will be amazed

Oct 28, 2026

A youth-friendly overview of moths explains how they relate to butterflies within the Lepidoptera group and why their wings are covered by thousands of tiny overlapping scales. The leaflet describes key body parts, different shapes and survival strategies such as camouflage and mimicry, and contrasts day-flying butterflies with mostly nocturnal moths. It outlines the four life stages—egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult—and shows how habitat, gardens, and plants shape where moths live.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time12 min

AccessFree to download

What are moths?

Moth body parts

The life cycle

Where moths live

Moths are important

Garden Tiger M . Parsons All about Moths Look further into the world of moths – you will be amazed What are moths? Moths and butterflies are part of the same group of insects called the Lepidoptera , meaning ‘scaly-winged ’. The colours and patterns of their wings are made up of thousands of tiny scales , overlapping like tiles on a roof. (It ’s best not to touch their wings because the scales will come off as a powdery dust.) Moths and butterflies are very similar. There are over 2 ,500 different types of moths and 58 different butterflies in the UK. Butterflies fly during the day but many moths are nocturnal , flying at night. However, some moths fly in the daytime. Fact: There are many more types of moths found in the day than butterflies. Moth body parts antenna proboscis Humming-bird Hawk-moth head compound eye thorax ~~ ~~ forewing ~~ ~~ hindwing ~~ ~~ abdomen 3 pairs of legs Moths come in all shapes and sizes , and some don’t even look like moths at all; the clearwing moths , for instance , look like wasps to stop predators from attacking them. Many moths have fantastic camouflage to help them hide from predators. The hook-tips , for example , look just like dry leaves. Others are brightly coloured like the tiger moths and hawk-moths. Fact: Hawk-moths got their name because they fly very fast like birds of prey. The life cycle Moths and butterflies have four different stages of their lives. 1. EGG-Female moths and butterflies lay tiny eggs on plants their caterpillars like to feed on. Some caterpillars can eat a wide range of plants but most are fussy and only eat certain types. A female can lay hundreds of eggs. 2. CATERPILLAR (Larva)– The caterpillar eats its way out of the egg and starts feeding on plants. A caterpillar’s job is to eat and grow, as this is the only stage in the life cycle where growth is possible. As it grows it sheds its skin several times and may also change in colour and pattern. Fact: A few caterpillars are protected by hairs as a warning to other animals (and people) DO NOT TOUCH! 3. PUPA (Chrysalis)– The pupa looks a bit like a sleeping bag. It is a truly amazing stage of the lifecycle. The outer case is hard and it stays still, but inside the caterpillar is changing its body into a moth or butterfly. The pupa may be attached to a leaf or twig or be buried underground. Sometimes thereis a silk cocoon around the pupa to protect it. 4. ADULT (Moth or Butterfly)– The pupa finally splits open and the adult moth or butterfly crawls out into the world. Its wings spread out, dry and harden ready for flight. It is ready to find a mate and so the life cycle starts all over again. Most adult moths are short-lived, some for only a few days. Others survive for many months and some even hibernate over winter (like hedgehogs and tortoises) . Activity: See the changing life cycle for yourself by rearing a caterpillar through to an adult. The Moths Count caterpillar lledthas morgo to theeLineorrnmpatagion or yes of Bouutterfly Conservation’s website to find out more. Elephant Hawk-moth Where moths live Moths are found everywhere from the seaside to almost bare mountain tops , in fact wherever there are plants for caterpillars to eat. Each type needs particular conditions for survival and even small changes in their habitat (the type of environment where they normally live) can stop moths from living there. Gardens are important for moths , especially in towns and cities. While most butterflies , birds and other wildlife just visit to look for food , our gardens provide a year-round home for many moths , throughout their life cycles. Most garden flowers that attract butterflies also attract moths , which come to feed on nectar (a sugary food source) both at night and by day. Some of the their favourite flowers are buddleia , red valerian , heather, sallow and ivy. Moths are also important for gardens , pollinating flowers and providing food for many

FAQs

What makes moths different from butterflies, and when are they active?

Moths and butterflies are both Lepidoptera with scaly wings, but many moths are nocturnal and fly at night, while butterflies usually fly during the day. Some moths can also fly in daylight.

What are the four stages in a moth’s life cycle?

Moths develop through egg, caterpillar (larva), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. The caterpillar eats and grows, the pupa transforms inside a protective outer case, and the adult emerges to spread and harden its wings.

Why are moths important for gardens and other animals?

Moths help pollinate flowers and provide food for birds, bats, and many other animals. Caterpillars also depend on plants for food, and different moths feed on different plants or parts of plants.

Oct 28, 2026

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