butterflymoth

Butterflymoth is a common name that can refer to several different species of insects, typically those that exhibit characteristics of both butterflies and moths. This often leads to confusion in identification. One notable group sometimes called butterflymoths are the Heterocera, which are the suborder of Lepidoptera that are not butterflies. However, some members of this suborder, particularly those with brightly colored wings and diurnal (daytime) activity, are colloquially referred to as butterflymoths.

These insects share the order Lepidoptera with butterflies, meaning they possess scaled wings and undergo complete metamorphosis. Like moths, they generally have feathery or comb-like antennae, though some species may have more slender antennae resembling those of butterflies. Their bodies are often stouter than those of true butterflies, and they typically rest with their wings held flat or tent-like over their bodies, unlike butterflies that usually hold their wings upright. The larvae of these insects, like all Lepidoptera, are caterpillars. The term "butterflymoth" is not a scientific classification but rather a descriptive term used in common language to describe insects that blur the lines between the two more formally recognized groups.