Butterflies and Moths

Lepidoptera ( LEP-ih-DOP-tər-ə) or lepidopterans are an order of winged insects which include butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 8.6% of the total described species of living organisms, making it the second largest insect order (behind Coleoptera) with 133 families and 43 superfamilies, and one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world.

Lepidopterans have several distinctive features, especially colored scales that cover their bodies, large triangular wings, and a proboscis for drinking nectar. Almost all species have membranous wings. Mating and egg-laying are normally near or on host plants for the larvae. Butterflies and moths undergo complete metamorphosis. The larva is called a caterpillar; it has a cylindrical body with a well-developed head, chewing mouthparts, three pairs of legs and up to five pairs of prolegs. As it grows, it changes in appearance, going through a series of stages called instars. Once mature, it develops into a pupa. A few butterflies and many moth species spin a silk casing or cocoon for protection prior to pupating, while others just go underground. A butterfly pupa, called a chrysalis, has a hard skin, usually with no cocoon. In the pupa, metamorphosis occurs, and a sexually mature adult emerges.

Lepidopterans first appeared in the fossil record at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. They have coevolved with flowering plants since the angiosperm boom in the Cretaceous. They have evolved a wide range of wing patterns ranging from camouflaged moths to the vivid displays of butterflies. A person who studies this order is called a lepidopterist.

Butterflies and moths are mostly herbivorous as caterpillars and nectar-feeding as adults. They serve as economically useful pollinators; conversely, caterpillars are often pests in agriculture, as they can quickly consume large quantities of leaves. Females often produce up to 600 eggs.