Order Lepidoptera
Butterflies & Moths
Butterflies & Moths
Butterflies & Moths
Order LepidopteraMore than 11,000 species in the
U.S. and CanadaAdults of many species are very
attractive, some very drabWings, bodies and legs are covered
with fine dust-like scales
Wings and Antennae
Lepidoptera are capable fliersThey possess two pair of wings – both
flight wingsThe antennae vary between moths and
butterfliesButterfly antennae are often knobbed at
the tip Moth antenna are often feather-like or
straight
Wings
Lepidoptera Antennae
Butterfly Collection
Butterflies & Moths
Many species are important economical pests
Many species attack cultivated plants
Some species feed on stored grains and meals
A few species feed on various fabrics
Corn Earworm Damage
Moth Damage
Silk
Natural silk is a product of one species
Lepidoptera Mouthparts
Most adults have a long, tubular proboscis designed for sucking up nectar from flowers
Some adults only have vestigial mouthparts
Larvae have chewing mouthpartsDefinition: Vestigial – small, poorly
developed, non-functioning
Lepidoptera Mouthparts
Life Cycles
Lepidoptera undergo a complete metamorphosis
Most larvae undergo as many as five molts
Yellow Admiral Butterfly Life Cycle
Lepidoptera Larvae
Larvae typically referred to as caterpillars – occasionally cutworms
The appearances can be almost frightening – probably an evolved defense mechanism to discourage predators
Lepidoptera often mimic something to discourage predators
Lepidoptera Larvae
Tomato Horned Worm Larvae
Hickory Horned Devil Larvae
Lepidoptera Larvae
Swallowtail Larvae
Lepidoptera Larvae
Monarch Larvae
Lepidoptera Larvae
Snake Mimic
Lepidoptera Larvae
Mimicking Bird Droppings
True Legs
Lepidoptera have 3 pair of legs arising from the thorax at the anterior end
Prolegs
And up to 5 pairs of prolegs along the abdomen
True Legs & Prolegs
Prolegs
Mouthparts
Lepidoptera larvae all have chewing mouthparts
Feeding Habits
The larvae of most species are phytophagous
Many species attack cultivated plants Larger larvae feed on the edges of leaves often leaving only the larger veins
Smaller larvae tend to eat small holes in the leaves often skeletonizing leaf blades
Feeding Habits
Some larvae are leaf minersSome larvae attack fruit, flowers, stems
and twigs, wood, and other plant partsSome are serious turf pestsSome are gall formingA few are predaceous against other
insects
Feeding Habits
Corn Earworms
Leaf Miners
Silk
Lepidoptera larvae possess well-developed silk glands
Many larvae use the silk for making cocoons
Some larvae use the silk to fold or roll leaves binding them to create hiding and feeding places
Some form large silk “tents” covering large areas of plants and in large numbers feed on the plant
Silk
Pupation
Many larvae form elaborate cocoons transforming into a pupa inside
Some species make very simple cocoons and some none at all
Larvae typically pupate in protected locations
Moth Pupae
Moth pupae are usually smooth and brownish
Some moth larvae pupate underground or in leaf litter
Sphinx Moth Larvae
Butterfly Pupae
Butterflies usually pupate in a “chrysalis”Chrysalids can have various color
patterns and may even be sculpted in various forms
Butterfly Pupae
Larvae attach the chrysalis by the posterior end and hang head-down suspended by the cremaster
Butterfly Pupae
Or head-up resting on the cremaster and supported by a silk thread
Butterfly Pupae
Monarch Chrysalids
Crow Butterfly Chrysalis
Generations
Most lepidoptera have one generation per year and usually overwinter as larvae or pupae
A few species have 2 or more generations per year
And a few require 2 to 3 years to complete a generation
Many species overwinter in the egg stageRelatively few species overwinter as
adults
Webbing Cloths Moth
Tineola bisselliella Family TineidaeAbout 135 species in North AmericaThe larvae cause considerable damage
to various animal product fabrics, including: woolens, silk, mohair, fur, hair, feathers, felt, etc.
Webbing Cloths Moth
The adults are straw coloredThe larvae are white with brown headsFemales lay between 100 and 300 eggs
on fabrics, etc. The eggs hatch out within 5 days
Webbing Cloths Moth
Tineola bisselliella
Case-Making Clothes Moth
Tineola pelloinellaForms cases of silk and fragments of
materials it has been feeding onThe larvae lives feeds and pupates with
the confines of the case
Case-Making Clothes Moth
Tineola pellionella
Sod Webworms
Adult Moth
Larvae
Lawn Moths
Cutworms
Prolegs
Tomato Horn Worms