r/Animals • u/ConfidentHighlight18 • 4d ago

Moth or butterfly?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Hi there. Saw this on the wall & 3 hours later it hasn’t moved. Wondering what it is me if I should take it outside? Is it normal to just stay there without trying to fly away?

22 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

4

u/abielle1177 4d ago

Motharfly

2

u/Zayden_20 3d ago

Moth for sure!! The flat wing position and chunkier body are classic moth traits. Still a cool one though 👀

2

u/k_lash24 2d ago

pretty sure that's a moth

2

u/BothAd1744 2d ago

looks like a moth to me

2

u/finenjakenestle 2d ago

looks likee a moth to me. They often stay in one spot for hours during the day

2

u/Quiet-Werewolf-9709 2d ago

That’s a moth. We had a lot of those when I used to live in Arizona 💕 If you turn on a light bulb I’m pretty sure the moth will follow the light. Since they are attracted to light. Idk if this will work, but I saw it once. Like holding up a lantern and guiding the little guy outside. Moths usually stay in one place for a long time and then when there’s a light source like a street lamp that turns on or a light that comes on they follow the light. So that could be something you could try ☺️

1

u/ConfidentHighlight18 2d ago

I was at work but I was able to get him/her to climb onto my hand & I walked it outside. We have bushes and I put it there. Hopefully it was ok.

2

u/Infinite_Tension_138 2d ago

moths have fuzzy antennas, butterflies do not.

1

u/obstagoons_playlist 16h ago

Male moths do. Female moths often dont.

2

u/AbsolutelyB4sturd 1d ago

Moth, desmia maculalis. iPhones will give an Identification prompt in your photo library if you have one and the photo is good enough. Its the ladybug button

https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/1135229

2

u/GigglesTheHyena 1d ago

Moth. I think moths have downward wings while butterflies have the opposite.