Moth

A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly. Both are of the order Lepidoptera.

Related Topics:
Insect - Butterfly - Lepidoptera

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People who study butterflies and/or moths are called lepidopterists; the study of butterflies is known as butterflying, and the study of moths mothing, the latter giving rise to the term mother for someone who takes part in this activity - sometimes written with a hyphen inserted: moth-er - to distinguish it from the word for a female parent (in spoken English, confusion does not arise as the two are pronounced differently).

Related Topics:
Lepidopterist - Butterflying - Mothing

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The division of Lepidopterans into moths and butterflies is a popular taxonomy, not a scientific one. Sometimes the names "Rhopalocera" (butterflies) and "Heterocera" (moths) are used to formalise the popular distinction.

Related Topics:
Rhopalocera - Heterocera

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Most species of moths are nocturnal, but there are crepuscular and diurnal species. They can be distinguished from butterflies in several ways.

Related Topics:
Nocturnal - Crepuscular - Diurnal - Several ways

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