What is this bug?

[Spacemom]

Is this a butterfly or a moth?



It came up and landed on my shoulder. It hung out there for 2 or 3 minutes and then flew away. It's still hanging around my house. :)

[NoSheep]

1. i vote moth

[Saphire]

7. me too.

[mrfrapp]

2. Moth

If its wings are laid flat when it's landed, like in the picture, it's a moth. If the wings are held together in a position vertical to the body, it's a butterfly.

Disclaimer: I'm not a zoologist so I could be wrong ;-)

[tk2kewl]

3. moth

moths rest with wings out, butterflies with wings up

[Deja Q]

4. Moth. A small one too, I suspect.

[Odonata]

5. looks like a skipper

does it bob up and down "skip" when it flies?

[XemaSab]

6. Butterfly

You can tell by the antennae: if they're feathery, it's a moth, if they have a little club on the end, it's a butterfly. This guy has the little clubs on the end.

Looks like a washed out fritillary. Maybe.

(Paging Mike_C, Paging Mike_C......)

[mike_c]

10. you nailed it....

:toast:

[XemaSab]

11. Awesome!

:woohoo:

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Butterfly.

Or, at least, it should be. :hi:

[mike_c]

9. it's a butterfly....

It's a nymphalid photographed from underwing-- looks like one of the fritillaries to me (and kinda worse for wear, too).

[RedCloud]

12. If it didn't start to munch on your clothes...

I vote butterfly.