Lepidoptera
Moths and butterflies
Lepidoptera is the scientific order containing butterflies and moths—insects with four scale-covered wings that undergo complete metamorphosis from caterpillar to adult.
The order includes roughly 180,000 known species, making it one of the largest insect groups.
She specialized in Lepidoptera at the natural history museum. (Lowercase lepidoptera appears in informal usage.)
Reproductive cell in shell
- larvaImmature feeding stage
- caterpillarMoth or butterfly young
- instarArthropod developmental stage
- moltShed outer covering
pupa · chrysalis · cocoon · imago · adult · emergence · diapause · pupation
Study of insects
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- GeometridaeInchworm moth family
- specimenIndividual for examination
- collectionGathered set of items
pinning · rearing · lepidopterist · Linnaeus · biodiversity · conservation · CITES · endangered species
Floral sugar water
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
- host plantOrganism harboring another species
- migrationMovement to new territory
- roostingSettling to sleep aloft
puddling · basking · predation · parasitoid · overwintering · diurnal · nocturnal · crepuscular
Sensory appendages on insects
- proboscisElongated animal head appendage
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- thoraxCentral body cavity
- abdomenTorso's lower cavity
compound eyes · spiracles · forewings · hindwings · eyespots · prolegs · setae · ocelli
Showing shifting spectral colors
- wing patternsDecorative designs on flight surfaces
- eyespotsSimple light-detecting organs
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
- warning colorationConspicuous hues signaling unpalatability
cryptic · camouflage · mimicry · melanistic · countershading · seasonal variation · polymorphism
Sun deity, moonshot namesake
Roman moon deity
- SphinxMythic creature posing puzzles
- AtlasSky-bearing Titan of myth
- PolyphemusOne-eyed giant of myth
- IoJupiter's volcanic satellite
egg
Reproductive cell in shell
- larvaImmature feeding stage
- caterpillarMoth or butterfly young
- instarArthropod developmental stage
molt · pupa · chrysalis · cocoon · imago · adult · emergence · diapause · pupation · life cycle
entomology
Study of insects
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- GeometridaeInchworm moth family
- specimenIndividual for examination
collection · pinning · rearing · lepidopterist · Linnaeus · biodiversity · conservation · CITES · endangered species
nectar
Floral sugar water
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
- host plantOrganism harboring another species
- migrationMovement to new territory
roosting · puddling · basking · predation · parasitoid · overwintering · diurnal · nocturnal · crepuscular · territorial
antennae
Sensory appendages on insects
abdomen · compound eyes · spiracles · forewings · hindwings · eyespots · prolegs · setae · ocelli · tarsi
iridescent
Showing shifting spectral colors
- wing patternsDecorative designs on flight surfaces
- eyespotsSimple light-detecting organs
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
warning coloration · cryptic · camouflage · mimicry · melanistic · countershading · seasonal variation · polymorphism
Apollo
Sun deity, moonshot namesake
Luna
Roman moon deity
- SphinxMythic creature posing puzzles
- AtlasSky-bearing Titan of myth
- PolyphemusOne-eyed giant of myth
LepidopteraHemiptera
True bug order
grasshoppers · cockroaches · silverfish · earwigs · mayflies