What are the differences between butterflies and dragonflies?

Even though both butterflies and dragonflies are insects, both of them belong to different orders. Butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera and Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata.

Butterflies and dragonflies differ in their life cycles. They also differ in their choices of habitat, diet, and morphology. Butterflies can be found in various environments ranging from rainforests to mountains.

Dragonflies like to be around moist areas such as wetlands, ponds, streams, and lakes. Butterflies will uncoil their proboscis or feeding tube and drink nectar from flowers, whereas dragonflies much prefer flying insects like bees.

Dragonflies have two pairs of wings that are pairs of wings that are transparent, straight, and have few veins. But the wings of butterflies are scaly.