Portal:Insects/Selected article/9

Lepidoptera is a large order of insects, comprising an estimated 174,250 species in 126 families and 46 superfamilies. It is one of the most widely-recognisable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skippers, and moth-butterflies.

The term "Lepidoptera" was coined by Carl Linnaeus in 1735 and is derived from the Ancient Greek words λεπίδος (scale) and πτερόν (wing). Lepidopteran species are characterised by more than 20 derived features, some of the most apparent being the scales covering their bodies and wings, and a proboscis. The scales are modified, flattened "hairs", and give butterflies and moths their extraordinary variety of colours and patterns. Butterflies and moths are holometabolous, meaning they undergo complete metamorphosis. Mating and the laying of eggs are normally carried out on or near the larval host plants. The larvae are commonly called caterpillars, and are markedly different from their adult moth or butterfly form, having a cylindrical body with a well developed head, mandible mouthparts, and 0–11 (usually 8) pairs of prolegs.