All adult Lepidoptera have bodies and wings covered with scales, large compound eyes, and mouthparts that are fused into a suctorial proboscis designed to suck up flower nectar, fruit juices or other liquids. The most obvious differences between them are in antennae and behavior. Moths generally are plainer and have hairier bodies than butterflies. They hold their wings horizontally and have fringed antennae. Many moths are nocturnal, flying only at night, but many tropical moths are large brightly colored day fliers.
Butterflies are usually large, brightly colored dayfliers.
They have clubbed antennae and hold their wings vertically. Skippers were once considered butterflies, but because of their hooked antennae, small size, and hairiness are probably more closely related to moths. Skippers often hold their front pair of wings at an angle to the horizontally held back pair. Lepidoptera are often identified to species by the veins and color patterns on their wings. The bright wing patterns are due to the tiny colored scales that cover the wings.