Coelolepida

Definition

A major clade of Lepidoptera comprising the infraorders Acanthoctesia, Lophocoronina, Neopseustina, Exoporia, and Heteroneura, with the latter three grouped within the subclade Myoglossata. Members are characterized by hollow wing scales (from Greek koilos 'hollow' + lepis 'scale'), a derived feature distinguishing them from the more basal lepidopteran clade Neopseustidae (non-coelolepid Glossata). Coelolepida encompasses the vast majority of moth and butterfly diversity, including all macro-Lepidoptera.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek κοῖλος (koîlos, 'hollow') + λεπίς (lepís, 'scale'), referring to the hollow structure of the wing scales diagnostic for this clade.

Example

The silkworm moth Bombyx mori belongs to Coelolepida, specifically within Heteroneura (the clade containing all butterflies and most moths), whereas the relictual genus Agathiphaga (family Agathiphagidae) falls outside this clade in the more basal lepidopteran grade.

Related Terms

• Lepidoptera
• Glossata
• Myoglossata
• Heteroneura
• Exoporia
• Neopseustina
• Acanthoctesia
• Lophocoronina
• wing scale
• clade

Usage Notes

Coelolepida is a phylogenetic (apomorphy-based) name rather than a traditional Linnaean rank; it is used primarily in systematics and evolutionary biology to denote the hollow-scaled lepidopteran lineage. The term contrasts with 'non-coelolepid Glossata' (essentially the paraphyletic assemblage of more basal lineages, principally Neopseustidae). In practice, Coelolepida is nearly synonymous with 'most Lepidoptera' in terms of species diversity, though not in terms of phylogenetic depth. The constituent infraorders vary dramatically in diversity: Heteroneura contains >99% of described lepidopteran species, while Acanthoctesia and Lophocoronina are species-poor relictual groups.