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This moth has large wings, measuring five to six inches from tip to tip. It is found all across the U.S.

Cecropia Moth

This moth has large wings, measuring five to six inches from tip to tip. It is found all across the…

Butterflies may Usually be distinguished by the vertical position of their wings when they are at rest, and by their having the antennae slender and club-shaped at the end.

Troilus Butterfly

Butterflies may Usually be distinguished by the vertical position of their wings when they are at rest,…

Butterflies may usually be distinguished by the vertical position of their wings when they are at rest, and by their having the antennae slender and club-shaped at the end.

Berenice Butterfly

Butterflies may usually be distinguished by the vertical position of their wings when they are at rest,…

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Butterfly

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Grubs are hatchlings of butterflies.

Grub

Grubs are hatchlings of butterflies.

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Butterfly

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Butterfly

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Tom Thumb pulled by butterflies.

Tom Thumb

Tom Thumb pulled by butterflies.

This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

Monarch Butterfly

This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

The larva of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

Monarch Butterfly

The larva of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

A hanging larva of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

Monarch Butterfly

A hanging larva of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing…

A hanging larva of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

Monarch Butterfly

A hanging larva of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing…

A hanging larva of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

Monarch Butterfly

A hanging larva of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing…

A pupa of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

Monarch Butterfly

A pupa of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

An egg of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

Monarch Butterfly

An egg of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

The mesothorax of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

Monarch Butterfly

The mesothorax of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing…

The metathorax of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

Monarch Butterfly

The metathorax of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing…

The abdomen of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

Monarch Butterfly

The abdomen of the monarch. This common butterfly is of a brown color, with black veins and wing borders.

The cabbage butterfly is one of the easiest of the butterflies to capture and rear, (Colton, 1903) This is a male.

Cabbage Butterfly

The cabbage butterfly is one of the easiest of the butterflies to capture and rear, (Colton, 1903) This…

The cabbage butterfly is one of the easiest of the butterflies to capture and rear, (Colton, 1903) This is a female.

Cabbage Butterfly

The cabbage butterfly is one of the easiest of the butterflies to capture and rear, (Colton, 1903) This…

The cabbage butterfly is one of the easiest of the butterflies to capture and rear, (Colton, 1903) This is a pupa.

Cabbage Butterfly

The cabbage butterfly is one of the easiest of the butterflies to capture and rear, (Colton, 1903) This…

Butterflies are found throughout most of the world.

Butterfly

Butterflies are found throughout most of the world.

Moths have generally shorter , hairier bodies than butterflies.

Moth

Moths have generally shorter , hairier bodies than butterflies.

There are three stages of a butterfly: caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly; respectively.

Butterfly

There are three stages of a butterfly: caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly; respectively.

The spoon-bill tyrant fly-catcher has a large, thick bill, which it uses for feeding on butterflies.

Spoonbill Tyrant Flycatcher

The spoon-bill tyrant fly-catcher has a large, thick bill, which it uses for feeding on butterflies.

"This term is derived from the Greek <em>lepis</em>, a scale, and <em>ptera</em>, wings, and refers to the scales on the wings of moths and butterflies, those insects constituting the order." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Lepidoptera

"This term is derived from the Greek lepis, a scale, and ptera, wings, and refers…

Lepidopterous insects, which are distinguished from butterflies in that the antennae taper to a point and do not terminate in a knob.

Moth

Lepidopterous insects, which are distinguished from butterflies in that the antennae taper to a point…

A genus of white butterflies, Pieris.

White Butterfly

A genus of white butterflies, Pieris.

"The family Morphidae contains the largest and most splendid of the South American butterflies. Their wings, often 7 inches in expanse, are generally of a brilliant metallic blue, which, as the insect flies, flashes in the sunlight so as to be visible, it is said, a quarter of a mile off." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Morphidae

"The family Morphidae contains the largest and most splendid of the South American butterflies. Their…

Representation of the scaly legs of the Gipsy moth.

Scaly Legs of the Caterpillar of the Gipsy Moth (Liparis Dispar)

Representation of the scaly legs of the Gipsy moth.

Membranous and fleshy legs.

Membranous Legs of Silkworm (Bombyx Mori)

Membranous and fleshy legs.

Representation of "the two membranous legs of a large caterpillar, of which the hooks of the feet are fastened into the branch of a shrub."

Membranous Legs of a Large Caterpillar Embracing a Twig

Representation of "the two membranous legs of a large caterpillar, of which the hooks of the feet are…

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet at full length, determines to walk, in order to take its first step it begins by humping its back, curving into an arch that part which has no legs, and finishes by [lying flat]"

Looper Caterpillar

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet…

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet at full length, determines to walk, in order to take its first step it begins by humping its back, curving into an arch that part which has no legs, and finishes by [lying flat]"

Looper Caterpillar Curved into an Arch

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet…

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet at full length, determines to walk, in order to take its first step it begins by humping its back, curving into an arch that part which has no legs, and finishes by [lying at full length]"

Looper Caterpillar at Full Length

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet…

"Their attitudes deceive even the close observer; they embrace the stem of the leaf or twig with their hinder or intermediate legs, whilst the rest of their body, vertically elevated, remans stiff and immovable for hours together."

Caterpillar of the Canary-Shouldered Thorn

"Their attitudes deceive even the close observer; they embrace the stem of the leaf or twig with their…

"When the caterpillar wants to gnaw the edge of a leaf, it twists its body in such a way that at least one portion of the edge of the leaf is held between its legs, while the insect's jaws cut the leaf."

Looper Caterpillar Eating the Leaves of the Apricot (After Reaumur)

"When the caterpillar wants to gnaw the edge of a leaf, it twists its body in such a way that at least…

"They select some convenient spot, where they hang themselves up, head downward."

Caterpillars of the Small Tortoise-shell Butterfly (Vanessa Urticae) Undergoing Their Metamorphoses

"They select some convenient spot, where they hang themselves up, head downward."

"To set itself entirely free, the chrysalis alternately lengthens and shortens itself. The old skin gradually pushed upward, until it is considerably shortened."

Chrysalides of the Small Tortoise-shell Butterfly Freeing Themselves from the Caterpillar Skin

"To set itself entirely free, the chrysalis alternately lengthens and shortens itself. The old skin…

"Magnified, represents the chrysalis arrived a its final state, and suspended to a branch of a tree by the network of silk."

Chrysalis Divested of the Larva Skin

"Magnified, represents the chrysalis arrived a its final state, and suspended to a branch of a tree…

"Shows how the head advances over half the circumference of the circle which it has to describe, and secures the end of the thread against the support."

Caterpillars of the Cabbage-Butterfly

"Shows how the head advances over half the circumference of the circle which it has to describe, and…

The caterpillar is suspended by a band it weaves itself.

Caterpillars of the Pieris Brassicae

The caterpillar is suspended by a band it weaves itself.

"Shows the chrysalis in two different positions, and held by the same band which first supported the caterpillar."

Pupae of Pieris Brassicae

"Shows the chrysalis in two different positions, and held by the same band which first supported the…

"Among caterpillars that make a very slight cocoon, some gather two or three leaves into a ball, to protect them."

Larvae of Catocala Fraxini

"Among caterpillars that make a very slight cocoon, some gather two or three leaves into a ball, to…

This caterpillar uses its own hair to fortify the cocoon.

Larva of Acronycta Aceris

This caterpillar uses its own hair to fortify the cocoon.

This caterpillar uses its own hair to fortify the cocoon. This is a representation of what the caterpillar looks like after removing all its hair.

Larva of Acronycta Aceris Taken Out of its Cocoon

This caterpillar uses its own hair to fortify the cocoon. This is a representation of what the caterpillar…

"The caterpillar of the Tiger-moth, or Woolly-bear, is covered with long, inclined hairs, which it uses in the same manner as has been described above."

Larva of Chelonia Caja

"The caterpillar of the Tiger-moth, or Woolly-bear, is covered with long, inclined hairs, which it uses…

A specimen of the caterpillar which makes their cocoons of silk with other materials.

Small Caterpillar of Pimpernel

A specimen of the caterpillar which makes their cocoons of silk with other materials.

Representation of the cocoon of the Pimpernel.

Cocoon of the Pimpernel

Representation of the cocoon of the Pimpernel.

"Makes itself a thick and very compact cocoon of the form of an egg."

Larva of Cucullia Verbasci

"Makes itself a thick and very compact cocoon of the form of an egg."

"This was the beginning of a cocoon. Each triangular blade was composed of a great number of small, thin, rectangular plates, taken from the bark of the tree."

Cocoon of Pyralis Corticalis

"This was the beginning of a cocoon. Each triangular blade was composed of a great number of small,…

"On the upper part of the [insect's under sides], we perceive various raised portions, formed and arranged like the bands around the heads of mummies."

Conical Pupa

"On the upper part of the [insect's under sides], we perceive various raised portions, formed and arranged…

"A great many others have in the upper part, along the edges which separate the two sides, little humps, eminences broader than they are thick, ending in a sharp point."

Pupa Having Angular Projections

"A great many others have in the upper part, along the edges which separate the two sides, little humps,…

"The head of the angular pupae terminates sometimes in two angular parts, which diverge from each other like two horns."

Angular Pupa of a Butterfly

"The head of the angular pupae terminates sometimes in two angular parts, which diverge from each other…

"A chrysalis seen from its lower side."

Chrysalis of the Large Tortoise Shell Butterfly (Vanessa Polychloros)

"A chrysalis seen from its lower side."

"In this early state one recognizes the head, which is then resting on the thorax; the two eyes and the antennae, which are brought forward like two ribbons; the wings are also brought over the thorax, but these are separated artificially in the drawing we have given; and lastly, in the space left between the wings, the six legs and the body of the insect."

Chrysalis of the Large Tortoise Shell Butterfly (Vanessa Polychloros)

"In this early state one recognizes the head, which is then resting on the thorax; the two eyes and…

"Represents a moth at the moment in which it has just emerged from the pupa. At the end of a short period the wings become developed, only they are wrinkled."

Moth Just Emerged

"Represents a moth at the moment in which it has just emerged from the pupa. At the end of a short period…

"Moth Whose Wings are Developing"

Moth Whose Wings are Developing

"Moth Whose Wings are Developing"

"Moth Whose Wings are Developed"

Moth Whose Wings are Developed

"Moth Whose Wings are Developed"

"All [butterflies] have four wings, which are covered with scales, that communicate to them the brilliant colors with which they are decorated."

Different Forms of the Scales of Butterflies, After Reaumur

"All [butterflies] have four wings, which are covered with scales, that communicate to them the brilliant…