Scaled-wings

Guides

• Lepidoptera

  Butterflies and Moths, Lepidopterans

  Lepidoptera is an order of winged insects comprising approximately 180,000 described species across 126 families and 46 superfamilies, making it the second largest insect order after Coleoptera. The group includes butterflies and moths, distinguished by scaled wings and bodies, complete metamorphosis with caterpillar larvae, and a coiled proboscis in most adults for liquid feeding. The order originated in the Triassic-Jurassic boundary around 200 million years ago and has coevolved extensively with flowering plants.

  scaled-wingscomplete-metamorphosispollinatorsagricultural-pestssilkwormmonarch-butterflymigrationmimicrycamouflagebiodiversity-indicators