Only beetles form a larger group. Butterflies and moths can be told apart in a number of different ways. Butterflies are usually more colorful than moths. Also butterflies hold their wings straight up while resting, and moths fold theirs flat over their back. Butterflies antennae are skinny and have a knob at the tip, while the moths antennae are more feathery and without the knobs.
Most moths are active at night.
Some of the largest most beautiful butterflies in the world are the Birdwing butterflies of New Guinea. Their wing spam can be as much as 8 inches. Butterflies can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Some species even live north of the Arctic Circle. In tropical South America there are about 6,000 named species of butterflies.