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Lepidoptera Butterflies; Moths; Skippers; Caterpillars; Borers; Webworms; Cankerworms; Bagworms

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Higher taxa:  Life   Insecta   Global map IDnature guides: Butterflies, Butterflies_San_Luis, Caterpillars, Dioptinae, Fruit_Pests, Groups_Insecta, Insect_orders, Lepidoptera, North_American_Invasives, USGAClarke We parsed the following live from the Web into this page. Such content is managed by its original site and not cached on Discover Life. Please send feedback and corrections directly to the source. See original regarding copyrights and terms of use. Insect Collection, University of Guelph Lucid via Discover Life

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© John Pickering, 2006-2010 Limenitis arthemis astyanax, adult	© John Pickering, 2006-2010 Junonia coenia
© Dave Wagner, 2002 Utetheisa bella, larva

Kinds

Acanthopteroctetidae Acraeidae Acrolepiidae -- Moths Acrolophidae -- Burrowing-webworm moths Adelidae Aegeriidae -- Clear-winged moths Agaristidae -- Forester moths Agathiphagidae Agonoxenidae -- Leafminer Aididae Alucitidae -- Many-plume moths Amathusiidae Amphitheridae Anomoeotidae Anomosetidae Anthelidae Apatelodidae -- American silkworm moths Apoprogonidae Arctiidae -- Tiger moths, Footman moths, Wasp moths, Moths Argyresthiidae -- Leafminers, Moths Arrhenophanidae Axiidae_homonym Basilodes Batrachedridae Bedellidae -- Leafminers Bedelliidae Blastobasidae -- Blastobasid moths Blastodacnidae Bombycidae -- Silk worms, Silkworm, Silkworm moths Brachodidae Brahmaeidae Brassolidae Bucculatricidae -- Skeletonizers Bucculatrigidae Callidulidae Callophrys Carposinidae -- Carposinid moths Carthaeidae Castniidae Cecidosidae Cercophanidae Choreutidae -- Skeletonizer Chrysopolomidae Citheroniidae -- Royal moths Cochylidae Cocytiidae Coelopoetidae Coleophoridae -- Casebearers, Casebearer moths Copromorphidae Cosmopterigidae Cosmopterygidae -- Cosmopterygid moths Cossidae -- Carpenterworms, Carpenter moths, Leopard moths Crambidae -- Webworms Crinopterygidae Ctenuchidae -- Wasp moths, Scape moths, Ctenuchid moths Cyclotornidae Dalceridae -- Dalcerid moths Danaidae -- Monarch butterfly Dioptidae -- Oakworms Doidae Douglasiidae -- Leaf-miner moths Drepanidae -- Hook-tip moths Dudgeoneidae Elachistidae -- Leafminer, Grass-miner moths Endromidae Eocoronidae Eosetidae Epermeniidae -- Epermeniid moths Epicopeiidae Epiplemidae -- Epiplemid moths Epipyropidae -- Planthopper-parasite moths Eriocottidae Eriocraniidae -- Eriocraniid moths Ethmiidae -- Ethmiid moths Eupterotidae Galacticidae -- Webworm Gelechiidae -- Twirler moths, Gelechiid moths Geometridae -- Geometer moths, Inch-worm moths, Looper-caterpillar moths, Measuring-worm moths, Cankerworm moths Glyphipterigidae Glyphipterygidae -- Glyphipterygid moths Gracilariidae -- Leaf blotch miners Gracillariidae -- Leafminers Harrisina Hedylidae Heliodinidae -- Skeletonizer, Heliodinid moths Heliozelidae -- Shield bearers, Leaf miners, Shield-bearers, Leaf-miner moths Hepialidae -- Ghost moths, Swift moths Hesperiidae -- Skippers Heterobathmiidae Heterogynidae Himantopteridae Holcopogonidae Hyblaeidae Hyphantria Hypsidae Immidae Incurvariidae -- Leafcutters, Yucca moths, Fairy moths Ithomiidae Lacosomidae -- Sack-bearer moths Lacturidae Lasiocampidae -- Lappet moths, Snout moths, Tent caterpillars Lecithoceridae Lemoniidae Libytheidae -- Snout Butterflies, Snout butterflies Limacodidae -- Slug-caterpillar moths, Saddleback-caterpillar moths, Moths Lithosiidae Lophocoronidae Lycaenidae -- Blue Butterflies, Gossamer-wing Butterflies, Blues, Gossamer-winged butterflies, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters Lymantriidae -- Tussock moths, Moths, Gypsy moths, Brown-tail moths Lyonetiidae -- Lyonetiid moths Manidiidae -- Manidiid moths Megalopygidae -- Flannel moths Megathymidae Metachandidae Metarbelidae Micropterigidae Micropterygidae -- Mandibulate moths Mimallonidae Mirinidae Mnesarchaeidae Momphidae Morphidae Neopseustidae Neotheoridae Nepticulidae -- Leafminers, Leaf-miner moths Noctuidae -- Owlet moths, Noctuid moths, Underwing moths, Cutworms, Dagger moths Nolidae -- Nolid moths Notodontidae -- Prominent moths, Dioptinae Nymphalidae -- Nymph Butterflies, Brushfooted Butterflies, Brushfoots, Satyrs, Wood-nymphs, Daggerwings, Morphos, Owl butterflies, Heliconias, Checkerspots, Milkweed butterflies, Glassywings, Espejitos, Brush footed butterflies, Brush-footed butterflies, Fritillaries, Checker-spots, Crescent-spots, Anglewings, Mourningcloaks, Admirals, Purples, Browns, Arctics Ochsenheimeriidae Oecophoridae -- Leafworms, Oecophorid moths Oenosandridae Oinophilidae -- Oinophilid moths Olethreutidae -- Codling moths, Oriental-fruit moths Opostegidae -- Opostegid moths Oxychirotidae Oxytenidae Palaeosetidae Palaephatidae Pantheidae Papilionidae -- Swallowtails, Parnassians, Apollos, Swallowtail butterflies Pericopidae -- Pericopid moths Phaloniidae -- Webworm moths Phyllocnistidae Pieridae -- White Butterflies, Brimstones, Orangetips, Sulphurs, Whites, Yellow white butterflies, Sulfurs Plutellidae -- Diamondback moths Prodoxidae -- Yucca moths Prototheoridae Pseudarbelidae Psychidae -- Bagworm, Bagworm moths Pterolonchidae Pterophoridae -- Plume moths Pterothysanidae Pyralidae -- Snout moths, Grass moths Pyromorphidae -- Smoky moths, Leaf-skeletonizer moths Ratardidae Riodinidae -- Metalmark Butterflies, Metalmark, Metalmarks Roeslerstammiidae Saturniidae -- Emperor moths, Royal moths, Giant silkworm moths, Moths, Silk moths, Giant-silkworm moths Satyridae -- Satyrs, Wood nymphs Schreckensteiniidae Scythridae -- Scythrid moths Scythrididae Sematuridae Sesiidae -- Clearwing moths Sessidae -- Sessid moths Simaethistidae Somabrachyidae Sphingidae -- Sphinx moths, Hawk moths, Hornworm moths Stathmopodidae Stenomatidae Stenomidae -- Stenomid moths Symmocidae Thaumatopoeidae Thyatiridae -- Thyatirid moths Thyretidae Thyrididae -- Window-winged moths Tineidae -- Fungus moths, Clothes moths Tineodidae Tischeriidae Tischeriidea -- Leaf-miner moths Tortricidae -- Leafroller moths, Leaf-roller moths, Leaf-tyer moths Trichoplusia Unknown Uraniidae Urodidae Whalleyanidae Xylorictidae Yponomeutidae -- Moths, Webworms, Ermine moths Ypsolophidae Zanolidae -- Zanolid moths Zygaenidae -- Skeletonizers

Overview

Butterflies and moths are in the order Lepidoptera. They can be readily identified from other insects by the scales on their wings. Lepidoptera, being derived from Greek, means "wings of scale." Their life cycle has four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis) and adult. Most butterflies fly during the day; most moths fly at night. In terms of species numbers, Lepidoptera is among the four largest insect orders, the others being the Coleoptera (beetles), Diptera (flies) and Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps & sawflies). Worldwide there are probably about 300,000 species of Lepidoptera, of which only an estimated 14,500 or about 5% are butterflies. With an estimated 6,000 species, the New World is rich in butterflies. In North America, there are over 11,000 described Lepidoptera species, including 679 butterflies.

Identification

Butterflies -- IDnature guide for North America Caterpillars -- IDnature guide for common species in Eastern North America Differences Between Moths and Butterflies What's the Difference Between a Moth and a Butterfly? -- Source: Northern Prarie Wildlife Center Distinguishing adults -- Source: www.butterflies-moths.com Identification of Major Families of Moths Identification of the Major Families of Moths: Adults -- Source: Web Images of North American Moth Species by John Snyder Identifying North America species Butterfly photo thumbnails -- Source: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Moth photo thumbnails -- Source: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Phylogeny

Taxonomic Category Scientific Name Common Name Phylum Arthropoda Arthropods Class Insecta Insects Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera Suborder FRENATAE Division MACROLEPIDOPTERA Bombycoidea -- Bombycidae, Lasiocampidae, Zanolidae Drepanoidea -- Drepanidae, Thyatiridae Geometroidea -- Geometridae Hesperioidea - Hesperiidae, Megathymidae (skippers) Papilionoidea - Danaidae, Heliconiidae, Libytheidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Parnassiidae, Pieridae, Riodinidae, Satyridae, (butterflies) Noctuoidea -- Agaristidae, Arctiidae, Ctenuchidae, Dioptidae, Liparidae, Manidiidae, Noctuidae, Nolidae, Notodontidae, Pericopidae Saturnioidea -- Citheroniidae Saturniidae Sphingoidea -- Sphingidae Uranioidea -- Epiplemidae Lacosomidae Division MICROLEPIDOPTERA Cycnodioidea -- Douglasiidae, Elachistidae, Heliozelidae Gelechioidea -- Blastobasidae, Cosmopterygidae, Epermeniidae, Ethmiidae, Gelechiidae, Oecophoridae, Stenomidae Incurvarioidea -- Incurvariidae Pyralidoidea -- Alucitidae Pterophoridae Pyralidae Thyrididae Nepticuloidea -- Nepticulidae Tineoidea -- Acrolophidae Coleophoridae Gracilariidae Lyonetiidae Oinophilidae Opostegidae Psychidae Tineidae Tischeriidea Tortricoidea -- Carposinidae Cossidae Olethreutidae Phaloniidae Tortricidae Yponomeutoidea -- Aegeriidae Glyphipterygidae Heliodinidae Plutellidae Scythridae Yponomeutidae Zygaenoidea -- Dalceridae Epipyropidae Limacodidae Megalopygidae Pyromorphidae Suborder JUGATAE - jugate moths Eriocraniidae Hepialidae Micropterygidae

Photographs

Butterflies of North America, coordinated & edited by Paul A. Opler, Ray E. Stanford, and Harry Pavulaan Moths of North America, coordinated & edited by Paul A. Opler Web Images of North American Moth Species, over 2,000 species, by John Snyder

Geographic distribution

Worldwide, except for Antarctic. Distribution Maps -- Source: Nothern Prarie Wildlife Research Center North America butterflies moths Mexico butterflies moths Checklists Kinds, North America Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Natural history

Life Cycle Overview -- David L. Wagner, Valerie Giles, Richard C. Reardon & Michael L. McManus Egg Metamorphosis: egg stage -- Source: www.butterflies-moths.com Larva Morphology -- David L. Wagner, Valerie Giles, Richard C. Reardon & Michael L. McManus Caterpillars of Eastern Forests -- David L. Wagner, Valerie Giles, Richard C. Reardon & Michael L. McManus Families Caterpillars of Pacific Northwest Forests & Woodlands -- Jeffery C. Miller Metamorphosis: larval stage -- Source: www.butterflies-moths.com Pupa Metamorphosis: pupal stage -- Source: www.butterflies-moths.com Adult Biology Thermal Regulation -- Source: www.butterflies-moths.com Detecting Sound -- Source: www.butterflies-moths.com Feeding Behavior -- Source: www.butterflies-moths.com Communication -- Source: www.butterflies-moths.com

How to encounter

The Butterfly Website, includes how to plant a butterfly garden Collecting eggs Collecting caterpillars Rearing Butterflies & Moths

Links to other sites

Butterflies of America Bob Patterson's Moths of Prince George's County, Maryland, USA Butterflies and Moths of North America,Occurrence maps, species accounts, checklists, and photographs Images of North American Moth Species, over 2,000 species, by John Snyder Butterflies of Southeastern Arizona, images, University of Arizona Butterflies of Northern Mexico & Sonora, images, University of Arizona Biology -- Source: www.butterflies-moths.com Electronic Resources on Lepidoptera Overview -- University of Michigan Global Lepidoptera Names Index -- database of butterfly and moth names North American Moth Photographers Group -- Mississippi State University Butterflies of Canada -- Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility Moths of Canada -- Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility UK moths Brisbane, Australia -- www.geocities.com

References

Scott. J. A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History & Field Guide. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.

Acknowledgements

John Pickering, University of Georgia, Athens I thank Cassie Lloyd, Sharon Ballew, and Kamelia Dari for technical support in developing the Lepidoptera pages; Sharon Ballew, Becca Haynes and numerous other University of Georgia undergraduates for help photographing specimens; Nancy Lowe for illustrations; Cecil Smith, Georgia Museum of Natural History, for loaning us specimens; and Gladys Cotter and Annie Simpson, USGS-NBII, for financial support and encouragement. Updated: 27 February, 2007