Moths and butterflies collectively belong to a big taxonomic group called Lepidoptera. That name means “scale-wing”, referring to the tiny scales that cover the wings of most of these species. The ...

The peppered moth has long been one of the most popular stories in all of evolution—for Darwinians and creationists alike. The Darwinians have always treated the sudden appearance in the mid-19th ...

Tiny light-scattering structures that give today’s butterflies and moths their brilliant hues date back to the days of the dinosaurs. Fossilized mothlike insects from the Jurassic Period bear textured ...

Moths are those “mysterious butterflies" that fly around at night, fluttering at our porch lights or around our windowsills. Midsummer is a great time for spotting these beauties in the northern ...

A few days ago in the garden, I spotted a small but very attractive insect. It was slim, around three quarters of an inch long and had a striking orange and black pattern that was hard to miss. I have ...

When it comes to an insect popularity contest between butterflies and moths, butterflies get most of the attention. Butterflies are usually, but not always, larger and more colorful. Plus, most moth ...

Nature doesn’t hold back when it comes to insects. While most people imagine bugs as brown, creepy, or bland, there’s a whole world of creatures that look like they were painted by a surrealist. Here ...

The cecropia moth is the largest species native to North America, with a wingspan of 5 to 7 inches. It is widespread across the eastern half of the U.S. Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say ...

Why is Christian Science in our name? Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and we’ve always been transparent about that. The church publishes the ...

Welcome to National Moth Week! (July 23-31) As an insect enthusiast, I encourage everyone to take a closer look at the vast diversity of moths that fill our world. Butterflies and moths belong to the ...

Triangular leaf senecio, Senecio triangularis, is common on the eastern slope of Cimarron Ridge in the San Juan Mountains, from 9,000 to over 10,000 feet. This year they grew to 5 feet tall with ...