Lepidoptera

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

Moths vs. butterflies: Can you tell the difference?

Moth versus butterfly

Hungry, hungry caterpillar

life cycle of the monarch butterfly

Polyphemus moth

Defensive bristles

For Students

black admiral moth

lepidopteran summary

Read Next

Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa) found on Matiu/Somes Island in the harbour of Wellington, New Zealand. Dec. 17, 2009 insect

Big Bugs and Colossal Crabs: 7 Invertebrates of Unusual Size

Discover

An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.

11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

San Francisco, California/USA-1/18/20: Womens March at Civic Center marching with signs of political protest regarding equality also embracing 2020 presidential candidates and celebrating equality

How Does the U.S. Government Define the Difference Between a Protest and a Riot?

Middle East bee locator map

Are the Middle East and the Near East the Same Thing?

Demystified - Do Lemmings Really Commit Mass Suicide? illustration

Do Lemmings Really Commit Mass Suicide?

Nelson Mandela, undated photo.

15 Nelson Mandela Quotes

Time zone map with standard time zones and International Date Line

Why Are Some Time Zones 30 Minutes Off Instead of an Hour?

airplane in flight (plane, aircraft, flying)

7 Puzzling Plane Disappearances

Lepidoptera: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2025

News •

236M-year-old dung reveals butterflies existed earlier than thought • June 9, 2025, 5:48 AM ET (Jerusalem Post)

Facts

Also Known As	Lepidoptera

Photos and Videos

Hungry, hungry caterpillar

life cycle of the monarch butterfly

Polyphemus moth

Defensive bristles

Silkworm cocoon

Moths vs. butterflies: Can you tell the difference?

The video thumbnail image shows a monarch butterfly perched on a plant with purple flowers.

See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Topics

Pyraloidea Micropterigoidea Eriocranioidea Hepialoidea Incurvarioidea Nepticuloidea Tischerioidea Alucitoidea Bombycoidea Cossoidea coleopteran Hymenoptera dipteran neuropteran flea caddisfly snakefly scorpionfly strepsipteran fly

Key People

John Henry Comstock

American entomologist

Quiz

Model of a molecule. Atom, Biology, Molecular Structure, Science, Science and Technology. Homepage 2010 arts and entertainment, history and society

Science Quiz

vulture. An adult bearded vulture at a raptor recovery center. The Gypaetus barbatus also known as the Lammergeier or Lammergeyer, is a bird of prey and considered an Old World vulture.

Animal Factoids

A roulette wheel showing the number 13. 13 letter word quiz.

13-Letter Word Quiz

Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)

Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz

Lion (panthera leo)

Deadliest Animals Quiz

Green tree python snake (Chondropython viridis) in a rainforest.

Creepy Crawlers Quiz

wasp. Vespid Wasp (Vespidaea) with antennas and compound eyes drink nectar from a cherry. Hornets largest eusocial wasps, stinging insect in the order Hymenoptera, related to bees. Pollination

Know Your Bugs Quiz

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

List

Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa) found on Matiu/Somes Island in the harbour of Wellington, New Zealand. Dec. 17, 2009 insect

Big Bugs and Colossal Crabs: 7 Invertebrates of Unusual Size