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    • Close up of the expanded knobs on butterfly antennae.
    Rights: Caleb Coppola Published 16 May 2010 Size: 810 KB Referencing Hub media

    Look at the antennae to distinguish a New Zealand butterfly from a moth. Butterflies have expanded knobs on the ends. Moths’ antennae are usually tapered and feathery.

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      Differences between butterflies and moths

      Butterflies and moths form the insect order Lepidoptera. The word ‘Lepidoptera’ comes from the Greek ‘lepis’ meaning scale and ‘petron’ meaning wing. When you look at the wing of a butterfly or ...

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      2. ARTICLE

      Investigating butterflies – an introduction

      Almost all of the butterflies in New Zealand are native and most are endemic. Compared to big, colourful species from other countries, our native butterflies are small and secretive. Rights ...

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