The butterflies always fly during the day and they are often beautiful coloured. In moths, there are also many species which fly during the day (day active moth) and sometimes they also are beautiful coloured.  
A characteristic of moths are the long feelers or antennae, which are unclubbed at the end. They are often comb-like, feathery or filamentous.
Most moths have no bright colours (brown, grey, white or black) and often with patterns of which help camouflage them during the day.
Moths tend to have stout and hairy bodies to conserve heat during the cooler nights.
There’s a coupling of the forewing with the hindwing. Unlike moths, butterflies generally hold their wings together above their backs when they are resting.  

I don't see it often in the garden, although it is a general butterfly. But.... In 2012 and 2013 I saw many.
It is to recognize  by the edge with blue half moons, which are clearly contrasted against the orange and black.
It hibernates in barns and houses and is therefore often one of the first butterflies in the spring (March)  
In April they put their eggs under the leaves of the nettles. The first generation flies at the end of May and June.  In August, September flies the larger second generation. Sometimes there is a third generation.
The caterpillars feed on nettles.
Wingspan 40 - 50 mm. Europe, Asia. German: Kleine Fuchs. French: Petite tortue, vanesse de l'ortie.
  

The upper side of the wings is orange with black spots, cross bands and a dark border. The hind wing underside is pale orange to pale yellow coloured with white spots. It is quite rare in the Netherlands, and is primarily found in the dunes in North Holland, the Frisian Islands. It looks like the Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) and the High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis adippe). 
The caterpillars feed on violets. 
June - August One generation. 
It overwinters as eggs in the leaf litter. 
Wingspan: 45 to 50 mm. 
Europe, Asia.  Photos 26-6-2014. German: Mittlere Perlmutterfalter.  

The upper side of the wings is orange with black spots. The underside of the hind wing is light brown with large white spots. It is mainly found in the dunes, but also in other sandy soils in the Netherlands.
The caterpillars feed on violets.
April - September Three generations. It overwinters as a caterpillar.
Wingspan: 35 to 45 mm.
Europe, northwest Africa, Asia. Photos 7-7-2014. German: Kleine Perlmutterfalter. French: Petit nacré. 

  Seen in our garden for the first time. Photo 7-10-2021
   

For the first time in the garden. It flew in the scullery. I've taken a few photos before it was allowed to leave our house. The small photo is of the underside.
Orange-brown wings with dark brown cross bands. On the forewing an eyespot. Also on the underside of the hindwing is a row of eyespots.
The caterpillars feed on different grasses.
April - September Two generations. Sometimes a third generation until November. Like this butterfly.
It overwinters as a half-grown caterpillar.
Wingspan: 40 to 52 mm.
Palearctic. The species has declined in the Netherlands. Photos 9-10-2014. German: Mauerfuchs. French: French: La Mégère, le Satyre. 

  Only in 2020 did I see it in our garden again. Here with closed wings. Photo 7-26-2020.      
  

The males are lemon yellow-colored, the females are greenish white. Both have on each wing an orange brown spot. By the light veins, form and colour the wings resemble on a leaf. They always settle with their wings closed.
They overwinter and emerge the following year early.
Flying time from July to October and February - May. Each year there is one generation.
It lays its eggs on the leaves of either Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) or Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) .
Wingspan about 55 mm.
Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia. German: Zitronenfalter. French: Citron. 
   

Orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines). Family Pieridae. 

A spring butterfly.
White wings with a grey to grey-black tip and with a black dot in the middle. Only in the male is the tip of the front wings striking orange. The underside of the forewings is marbled yellow-green.
The caterpillars are approximately 30 millimeters long. Pale bluish green with a white lateral line, below which the colour changes to dark green.
Mid April - end of May. One generation.
The caterpillar feeds on cuckooflower, garlic mustard and sometimes other crucifers and feeds mainly on the seed pods. It pupates and attach themselves with a silken girdle to a nearby woody stem and hibernates in this way.
Wingspan 35-45 mm.
Europe, Middle East and Asia. Photos 6-4-2020, 10-5-2020.    
        

The underside of the rear wing is yellowish brown with light spots. Host plants: Various species of grasses. Sandy and peat grounds. Grasslands (no clay), forest clearings. Overwinters as half-grown caterpillar. June - August. Wingspan 25 - 32 mm.   Europe.  Photos 15-7-2012, 17-6-2013. 
    

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