AY Honors/Insect/Lepidoptera

Lepidoptera

Butterflies, Moths and Skippers (Lepidoptera)

Order: Lepidoptera

Description: Lepidopterans undergo complete metamorphosis, going through a four-stage life cycle:

1. egg
2. larva/caterpillar
3. pupa/chrysalis
4. imago/adult.

The larvae, caterpillars, have a toughened head capsule, chewing mouthparts, and a soft body, that may have hair-like or other projections, 3 pairs of true legs, and additional prolegs (up to 5 pairs). Adults have two pairs of membranous wings covered, usually completely, by minute scales. In some species, wings are reduced or absent (often in the female but not the male). Antennae are prominent. In moths, males frequently have more feathery antennae than females, for detecting the female pheromones at a distance.