Your insect is probably a butterfly or moth

A red admiral butterfly and a clothes moth

Order: Lepidoptera
Body length: 3 - 300mm
Species: World - 165 000, UK - 2495

Moths and butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera. There is no real scientific difference between moths and butterflies but we still split them because:

Butterflies tend to be active during the day, are more brightly coloured, and have simple antennae ending in a small swelling or 'club'.
Moths tend to be active during the night, are less brightly coloured, and have a variety of different antennae, but never those with a 'club'.

Find out more about butterflies

Find out about different types of insects.
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