Are moths considered animals?

No, moths are not considered animals. Moths are insects that belong to the class Lepidoptera. All moths have scales on their wings, and some species have scales on other parts of the body. The scales make it easier for the moth to fly and also help in protection from predators.

Moths are distinguished from butterflies by their thick furry bodies, heavy scales on wings, and antennae that are usually “clubbed” at the tip. Moths are active mostly at night, so they have developed a number of adaptations to help them find mates, avoid predators, and find food sources.

What family are moths?

Moths are part of the Lepidoptera order, and there are over 100 families of moths. Some well-known families are Noctuidae, Arctiidae, Geometridae, and Pyralidae.

Lepidoptera literally means scale (lepido) and wing (ptera). This refers to the scales that cover the wings and bodies of butterflies, moths, and skippers. These scales give them color variations and patterns.

Moths have been around for 190 million years, and there are more than 160,000 species worldwide. Moths are not as diverse in color as butterflies or as big in size, but they can fly over long distances, migrate like birds and even migrate back to their birthplace to lay eggs.

How are moths classified?

Moths are classified into:

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Noctuidae, Arctiidae, Geometridae, etc. (more than 100 families)

Species: Scoliopteryx Beatrix, Plodia interpunctella, Acronicta psi, etc. (more than 150,000 species)

Thus, moths are not considered animals because they are not vertebrates (animals with backbones), unlike most creatures that are considered parts of the animal kingdom like humans, mammals, fish, or reptiles. Moths are insects and are included in the insect kingdom, which is a separate kingdom from the vertebrate animal kingdom.