FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you get these butterflies and insects?

From around the world. They are either extremely common or they are raised by insect enthusiasts or on butterfly farms. 

 

What is a butterfly farm?  

In tropical locations around the world, there are small community or family-owned businesses that raise butterflies as tourist attractions and for export to collectors and butterfly conservatories. 

 

How and when did you get interested in this?

John has been fascinated with butterflies, insects, and the natural world since he first learned to walk.  John started collecting and drawing insects when he was four years old. He attended college and graduate school for biology, entomology, invertebrate zoology and fine arts (printmaking, and drawing, etc.)

 

Will the colors fade on butterflies and moths?

Most butterfly colors do not fade unless they are exposed to direct sunlight daily.  There are butterflies in museum collections that are over 100 years old; the colors are still brilliant.  We suggest not putting a butterfly/moth frame on a sunporch where direct light hits the frame.  

 

What’s the difference between a butterfly and a moth?

Butterflies are diurnal. (they fly during the day)

Moths are nocturnal. (they fly at night)

Butterflies have antennas with a knob on the end. Moths have feather-like or tapering hair-like antennae.

Moths hold their wings flat when resting. Butterflies hold their wings together when resting.

Moths spin a cocoon; Butterflies do not.  

 

How many kinds of butterflies and moths are there?

There are approximately 17,500 species of butterflies, and 160,000 species of moths in the world.

 

What are butterflies and moths called?

The scientific name is Lepidoptera, they are insects.

What is the study of insects called?

Entomology

 

How many legs do butterflies and moths have?

They have six, like all other insects.

 

Are spiders insects?

No, spiders are arachnids. They have eight legs, instead of six, and have two body parts instead of three, and they don’t have wings.

 

Do butterflies and moths bite?

No, they feed with a proboscis, which is a coiled tube that they use to suck up nectar and liquids.

Note:  caterpillars often have jaws and can bite.