LEPIDOPTERA

• Butterflies and Moths
• Difference between butterflies and moths is based on shape of antennae, and the connection between front and hind wings.
• Wings with scales, also scales on body and legs.
• Large order with many species especially in the tropics.
• Important order, many phytophagous species pests of agricultural crops, fabrics, stored grain or meal.
• Beautiful insects, well known.
• One species Bombyx mori (silkworm) produces natural silk.
• Mouthparts usualy sucking in adult, proboscis long and coiled, labial palps extending forward.
• Compound eyes well developed, usually 2 ocelli, one on each side near compound eye.
• Auditory organs (tympana) usually on 1st abdominal segment or on metathorax.
• Complete metamorphosis.
• Larvae usually phytophagous, some produce odours, some have stinging hairs, most are harmless when handled.
• Larvae (caterpillars) have cylindrical body, well developed head with biting/chewing mouthparts, 3 thoracic segments with thoracic legs, usually 10 abdominal segments with prolegs on segments 3-6 and 10 (some have fewer prolegs), 6 ocelli, very short antennae.
• Often leaf feeding: big caterpillars feed on edge of leaf, smaller ones windowing or holes in leaves or leaf miners. Few are gall makers, some are borers in fruit, stem or wood.
• Silk glands in caterpillars usually well developed, production of cocoons, to make shelters, leaf rolling, escape from predator.
• Pupation sometimes in cocoon, sometimes naked, often in protected environment, sometimes in soil, often attached to branches
• Appendages in pupae are firmly attached to body, well visible in older pupae.
• Winter or dry season often passed as larva, pupa or egg.

Families

The order Lepidoptera is divided into a number of families. Some families containing a important agricultural pests are:

• Gelechiidae = Gelechiid moths
• Gracillaridae = Leaf blotch miners
• Lyonetiidae = Lyonetiid moths
• Plutellidae = Diamond-back moths
• Cossidae = Carpenter moths and Leopard moths
• Tortricidae = Tortricid moths
• Pyralidae = Snout moths, grass moths, and others
• Nymphalidae = Brush-footed butterflies
• Lycaenidae = Coppers, blues, and others
• Pieridae = Whites, yellows, and orange-tips
• Papilionidae = Swallowtails and parnasians
• Geometridae = Measuring worms, geometers, and others
• Sphingidae = Sphinxs or hawk moths, hornworms
• Arctiidae = Tiger moths and others
• Noctuidae = Noctuid moths