Insects are divided into different groups known as orders. One of these is the order Lepidoptera, which is the collective name given to insects which have scales on their four wings—namely butterflies, moths. They also include skippers, which were earlier considered to be butterflies, but are now known only to be related to them. Insects belonging to this group are called as lepidopterans. These are amongst the most widespread and widely recognizable insects in the world.
About 180,000 species of Lepidoptera have been described.[1] These are taxonomically arranged in 126 families and 46 superfamilies.[1][2] In fact, the lepidopterans are so numerous in variety that roughly very tenth species of living creature in the world is a butterfly, moth or skipper.[2]
Butterflies are lepidopterans which are day-flying, have brighter colours than moths and hold their wings vertically above their bodies when resting. Moths, on the other hand, keep their wings flat or horizontal when at rest, are mostly night-flying, and have duller colours than butterflies. Skippers resemble butterflies but have hooked antennae, stockier bodies, and a quick, darting flight. However, this traditional splitting of lepidopterans into butterflies and moths is scientifically inaccurate and based on past convention in the English-speaking world.
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The lime butterfly (Papilio demoleus), a swallowtail butterfly found almost all over the world. -
The tomato hornworm moth (Manduca quinquemaculata) is a hawk moth which is a major agricultural pest. -
A rice swift (Borbo cinnara), a skipper found in South and Southeast Asia.
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Lepidopterans have an extremely wide range of wing sizes, shapes, patterns, and colours. They range from tiny drab moths, such as the microlepidoptera moths of the family Gelechiidae to the very large, and brightly colored Ornithoptera birdwing butterflies. Accordingly, these are the most recognized and popular of insect orders with many people involved in the observation, study, collection, rearing of, and commerce in these insects. A person who collects or studies lepidopterans is referred to as a "lepidopterist".
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Microlepidoptera of the Gelechioidea, such as Palumbina guerinii, are amongst the smallest lepidopterans. -
Tailed hindwings of Madagascan sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus family Uraniidae). -
The common green birdwing (Ornithoptera priamus) is one of the largest and most colourful butterflies in the world.
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Butterflies and moths play an important role in the natural ecosystem. Many butterflies and moths pollinate flowers. Butterflies and moths are also important part of the diet for birds, lizards and other insects. The larvae of lepidopterans are usually referred to as caterpillars. Caterpillars feed on the leaves and shoots of plants. In many species, the female may produce from 200 to 600 eggs, while in others, a female may lay as many as 30,000 eggs in one day. The caterpillars hatching from these eggs can cause damage to large quantities of crops and fruit trees, and such caterpillars are considered as agricultural pests. The caterpillars of some moth species, including that of the domesticated silk moth, make silk coccoons, from which silk fibre is obtained.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Capinera, John L. (2008). "Butterflies and moths". Encyclopedia of Entomology. Vol. 4 (2nd ed.). Springer. pp. 626–672. ISBN 9781402062421.
- ^ a b Mallet, Jim (12 June 2007). "Taxonomy of Lepidoptera: the scale of the problem". The Lepidoptera Taxome Project. University College, London. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.