Butterflies and moths vary in color, shape and size in different regions all over the world. The types of butterflies and moths that we see here in northern Michigan are different from those found in the Rocky Mountains of the west, or even as far east as the Himalayas. The vegetation, altitude, flowers and plants in an area determine what type of butterfly and moth can be found. There are several ways to tell the difference between a moth and a butterfly. Moths, for instance, have a larger abdomen than the butterfly.
Moths also have feathery antennae, rather than the slender, club tipped antennae of the butterfly.
Butterflies tend to hold their wings upright over their backs, while moths rest their wings flat. Most butterflies fly during the daytime and moths during the nighttime. Despite these simple differences, there is not one specific feature that separates all moths from all butterflies. The courting of butterflies is a complicated matter. Like bees, butterflies also perform courtship dances.