Order Lepidoptera
By:
Paige Carleton
Meaning behind Lepidoptera
• Comes from Greek language:
– Lepido meaning “scale”
– Ptera meaning “wing”
• This makes sense because the insects in this
order all have wings in their adult stage and
the scales refer to the small flakes that coats
the wings of these insects.
Life Cycle of Lepidoptera
• Moths and butterflies
undergo a complete life
cycle.
• Egg
• Caterpillar (larvae)
• Pupae- where they
undergo transformation
• Adult
Life Cycle of Lepidoptera
• A female may lay only a few eggs or tens of thousands.
• After the caterpillars hatch, they usually develop through 4 to
7 instars over a period of a few weeks.
• When the caterpillar is ready to pupate they generally find
shelter to spin their cocoons.
Common Characteristics
• Two pairs of membranous
(transparent) wings that
are covered in tiny scales
which overlap like
shingles on a roof.
• Large compound eyes
that consists of many
light-sensitive lens, each
with its own refractive
system and each forming
its own portion of the
image.
Common Characteristics
• One ocelli, simple eye with
simple lens, present above
each eye.
• Antennae present.
– Butterflies have clubbed
antennas.
• Mouth parts are formed
into a sucking tube known
as a proboscis.
Anatomy of a Butterfly
Feeding Habits
• Most larvae of moths and butterflies are
neroivores
– Either eating foliage or wood
• Some are carnivorous
– Eating other caterpillars
– Feeding on soft bodied insects
• Adults are generally nectar
feeders
Common Members of Lepidoptera
butterfly
moth
Moth vs. Butterfly
- Butterflies have clubbed antennas and the habit
of holding their wings vertically when at rest.
- Moths sit with their wings flat.
General Niche of Lepidoptera
• The Lepidoptera insects feed on the nectar in
flowers and then they can pollinate the other
flowers they go to. The flowers are dependant
on these insects for pollination.
Beautiful But Destructive
• Insects in this order are usually seen and noticed by
their beauty, but they can be harmful for farmer’s
crops. The larvae of these insects are destructive to
crops and forest trees because they eat plants in this
stage.
Why are butterflies so colorful?
– Sometimes the colors are bright and are intended to
warn away potential predators.
– This indicates that they taste bad to a predator.
– Other times the bright colors are meant to attract
mates.
– Some are colored to look very much like a food plant
in order to help the insect hide.
Fun Facts
• Butterflies range in size from a tiny 1/8 inch to
a huge almost 12 inches
• The top butterfly flight speed is 12 miles per
hour. Some moths can fly 25 miles per hour!
• Butterflies cannot fly if their body
temperature is less than 86 degrees
Work cited
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