Butterfly or Moth

Butterfly (or moth) - photo by LadyDuck

@LadyDuck (472000)

Switzerland

September 8, 2016 8:58am CST

This morning, near our mailbox, I have noticed this insect, that I had never seen before in our area. It did not seem scared by humans and it was kind enough to wait for me, while I went inside to get my camera to take a picture. At first I thought it was a small butterfly but, it seems that it's a moth called "nine-spotted moth". The images I found online are similar, but I am not fully sure that it's the same kind of insect, because I do not count nine spots, but ten. Let's just hope that it does not bite. Does someone know a bit more about this butterfly/moth?

73 people like this

80 responses

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43910)

• Cambridge, England

8 Sep 16

This is a moth. The distinguishing feature is that a butterfly's antennae are just a plain stalk, usually with a club on the end, whereas a moth's antennae are feathered to a greater or lesser extent. The wing shape is that of a moth rather than of a butterfly, as well, and the fact that it is resting with the wings flat is another indication. I have tried to look for it on this very comprehensive website but it lists over 700 species for Switzerland alone, so it was rather time consuming! A book of Lepidoptera for Switzerland or the Alps might be more use! I have to say that it is a really fantastic photograph which shows the deep black and white spot pattern, together with the dark blue stripe at the fore-edge of the wings AND the yellow stripes on the body particularly well. It should be quite easy to identify from that.

www.lepidoptera.eu

8 wrzesnia 2016 Motyle Europy Heterocera Brahmaeidae2 CossidaeTrociniarkowate5 CrambidaeWachlarzykowate182 DrepanidaeWycinkowate17 EndromidaeNasierszycowate1 Erebidae136 Euteliidae1 GeometridaeMiernikowcowate469 HepialidaeNiesobkowate7 Heterogynid

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Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43910)

• Cambridge, England

8 Sep 16

@LadyDuck I agree that it seems to match Amata phegea quite well, though the spots are smaller and fewer than on photos of other specimens I can find, however, I believe that it can be rather variable. The other possibility is Zygaena ephialtes which, apparently, is mimicked by A. phegea (because Z. epiphaltes is unpalatble to birds). I think that you'll find that the five (or six) spots on the wings of yours are a better match and that what I see as a dark blue stripe on the wings of yours may actually be a trick of the lighting and the whole wing may be dark blue.

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

I have continued to search and I am pretty sure that this is an "Amata Phegea", that is in fact a moth. This one was very dark, almost black. I have seen some photos where they look dark blue. Thank you for the link.

2 people like this

@pgntwo (22408)

• Derry, Northern Ireland

8 Sep 16

Nifty website!

3 people like this

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@JudyEv (341752)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Sep 16

I don't know much about butterflies or moths at all but he is very handsome.

8 people like this

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@vandana7 (100533)

• India

8 Sep 16

How did you classify it to be "he"...

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

@vandana7 I thought you were discussing with me, but I see that Judy wrote "he", I did not even notice. Anyway it's not a problem, if I remember well butterflies and moths are hermaphrodites.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

My husband says that there were many in Italy in the village where his father had a villa on the Lake Maggiore. I had never seen one before.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Sep 16

I know nothing about that particulate species, but it was clearly a moth to me. Moths tend to have a dumpier thick body than butterflies.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Sep 16

@vandana7 It is better description than Nine spotted moth is for a moth which clearly has ten spots.

3 people like this

@vandana7 (100533)

• India

8 Sep 16

What a description..lol.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

You are right Barry, I researched a bit more and it is a moth. It's not an interesting species and it seems it's also pretty common in Europe. Strange I never saw one before.

2 people like this

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@LovingMyBabies (85288)

• Valdosta, Georgia

8 Sep 16

I am not sure what it is but it's really pretty. =)

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

I thought it was pretty and I took the picture. I do not think it bites, butterflies do not bite.

4 people like this

@workathomefan (8957)

• Prairieville, Louisiana

3 Jun 17

I agree Jen pretty and attractive insect.

@skysnap (20153)

•

8 Sep 16

I don't have much idea about moth and butterfly but I find them fascinating.

7 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

I think they are cute and I find them fascinating too. I hope to see this one around again.

4 people like this

@sol_cee (38219)

• Philippines

8 Sep 16

Looks like she's wearing a black kimono. Beautiful!

7 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

You are right, I loved the color.

2 people like this

@marguicha (223720)

• Chile

10 Sep 16

Beautiful picture! And an incredible answer from @owlwings too.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

10 Sep 16

Thank you, I agree, owlwings gave me a great answer with plenty of interesting details. Now I know a lot more about moths and butterflies.

2 people like this

@TiarasOceanView (70022)

• United States

8 Sep 16

I am not sure but my Mama said it is a moth.

Anna you took a great photo of it. I had never seen one before.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

Mama is right, it is definitely a moth, but a very nice one. I was lucky it did not move, it's hard to take macro photos.

2 people like this

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

9 Sep 16

How kind of it to wait for you to come back with the camera - wlldlife never waits for me! it's a very nice looking moth.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

I agree that it's a nice moth Janet. Usually I miss all wildlife photos. Yesterday morning it was pretty cold, I suppose it was there warming in the sun.

2 people like this

@amnabas (14628)

• Karachi, Pakistan

8 Sep 16

It looks so beautiful I characterize it as butterfly.

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

I prefer to think that it is a butterfly, it's a cute little insect.

2 people like this

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

8 Sep 16

thats more a moth I think its called a TIGER MOTH

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

Yes, I discovered that it's a moth, it's not a tiger moth, but is in fact a "nine-spotted-moth", the scientific name is Amata Pheagey. Here is a photo of the tiger moth.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

@Inlemay There are so many species when you start to look around, it is incredible.

1 person likes this

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

8 Sep 16

@LadyDuck well thats wonderful you were able to find its name

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@JamesHxstatic (29413)

• Eugene, Oregon

8 Sep 16

I don't know, but it is a strange and beautiful insect which probably won't bite.

3 people like this

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Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43910)

• Cambridge, England

8 Sep 16

@LadyDuck Moths do get such a bad press! Certainly some are pretty dowdy at first glance (though the patterns are beautiful if you look closely) but that is because those 'unlovely' ones tend to spend the day time on trees camouflaged as a piece of bark. Actually, many moths are so strikingly beautiful as to put most butterflies in the shade, so PLEASE don't say "it's only a moth"!

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

@owlwings I will never say this again, I swear.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

8 Sep 16

I finally discovered that it's only a moth, but it's pretty and it surely does not bite.

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@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

9 Sep 16

I have no idea, I do know a butterfly from a moth and it looks like a moth to me. it's a beautiful little thing.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

You are right, it's a humble moth, but it's cute to be only a moth.

1 person likes this

@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

10 Sep 16

@LadyDuck It's very cute. Beautiful colors.

1 person likes this

@responsiveme (22926)

• India

8 Sep 16

Black beauty...posed for a photo shoot

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

Yes, I thought it was posing for the photo, it did not move at all.

2 people like this

@suziecat7 (3350)

• Asheville, North Carolina

9 Sep 16

Owlwings has it covered, I think. Beautiful creature, isn't it?

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

Yes, Owlwings gave me all the details and a very interesting link to visit.

Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61102)

• United States

9 Sep 16

It is very pretty but I have no idea which it is., sorry.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

I had some good answers to my question and now I know that it's only a moth, well it's a cute one.

1 person likes this

@Juliaacv (51458)

• Canada

9 Sep 16

I can see why it caught your eye, its striking looking, but I am afraid that I don't know anything about it.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

I was surprised by the colors and the spots on the wings. Now I know that it's only a moth, but it's cute anyway.

1 person likes this

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39509)

• United States

8 Sep 16

a most interestin' critter fer certain. sadly, i've nary a clue what it'd be.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

It seems it's only a moth, but the colors are beautiful and it's cute. I hope to see others similar to this one.

1 person likes this

@Lucky15 (37374)

• Philippines

8 Sep 16

With the body...maybe this is a moth?

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

Yes, after the answers I received I searched more and it's for sure a moth.

1 person likes this

@HazySue (39268)

• Gouverneur, New York

8 Sep 16

@LadyDuck that is a beautiful moth. I would have thought it was a butterfly. I looked at pictures of this type moth and it looks like they generally have nine spots on each wing. I really could not find any information.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472000)

• Switzerland

9 Sep 16

Looking closer to my original photo (that is bigger) I noticed that par of the wings are folded, this is surely the reason why I do not see the nine spots on each wing. I will check if it's still around.

1 person likes this