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