Difference Between Butterflies And Moths.

[dartagnon]

Many, many years ago when I was at primary school I remember being told that a Butterfly would always settle on a plant with its wings closed and that a moth would have open wings. Was I given wrong info all those years ago or is it still a good rule of thumb.
The reason I'm asking is that on recent travels to Tenerife and Florida I've seen what I thought were beautiful "Butterflies" on plants with their wings open, so can anyone please put me right on how to identify.

Thanks in anticipation.

[boxtops]

I think that long-ago info was wrong - I too have seen many butterflies landing with their wings open. My rule of thumb is that moths have hairy bodies - butterflies don't.

[Buenchico]

From the website of the US Library of Congress:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/butterflymoth.html

[elliemay1]

And IMO butterflies are prettier.

[Buenchico]

For Elliemay1:
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/20-moth-species-more-beautiful-than-butterflies

[elliemay1]

Oops, I stand corrected Chris!

[Sam1960]

think this is a fabulous site if your keen on wildlife
http://www.uksafari.com/

[heathfield]

It's a bit hidden in Chris's link, but in the UK moths have sharp ends to their antennae, while a butterfly's antennae has club ends. The link does point out that the antennae of some moths found in Indonesia and Australia are exceptions to this rule.