Lepidoptera, from Ancient Greek lepís “scale” + pterón “wing”) is an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, 10 per cent of the total described species of living organisms. It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world. The Lepidoptera show many variations of the basic body structure that have evolved to gain advantages in lifestyle and distribution. Recent estimates suggest the order may have more species than earlier thought, and is among the four most speciose orders, along with the Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera.
The cinnabar moth is a brightly coloured arctiid moth found as a native species in Europe and western and central Asia. It has been introduced into New Zealand, Australia and North America to control ragwort, on which its larvae feed. The moth is named after the red mineral cinnabar because of the red patches on its predominantly black wings. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Cinnabar moths are about 20 mm (0.79 in) long and have a wingspan of 32–42 mm (1.3–1.7 in).
The light brown apple moth is a leafroller moth belonging to the lepidopteran family Tortricidae.
Citheronia regalis, the regal moth or royal walnut moth, is a North American moth in the family Saturniidae. The caterpillars are called hickory horned devils. The adult (imago) has a wingspan of 3.75-6.1 in (9.5-15.5 cm). The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793.
Gracillariidae is an important family of insects in the order Lepidoptera and the principal family of leaf miners that includes several economic, horticultural or recently invasive pest species such as the horse-chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella.
The hornet moth or hornet clearwing is a large moth native to Europe and the Middle East and has been introduced to North America. Its protective coloration is an example of Batesian mimicry, as its similarity to a hornet makes it unappealing to predators. The hornet moth has been linked to the large dieback of poplar trees across Europe because its larvae bore into the trunk of the tree before re-emerging as adults.
Acronicta rumicis, the knot grass moth, is a moth which is part of the genus Acronicta and family Noctuidae. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It is mainly seen in the Palearctic region, which includes Asia, Africa, and Europe. A. rumicis lives and feeds on plants located in wide-open areas. At its larval stage, as a caterpillar, it causes such a large impact as a crop pest that it has received much attention and research. A. rumicis feeds on maize, strawberries and other herbaceous plants.
Galleria mellonella, the greater wax moth or honeycomb moth, is a moth of the family Pyralidae. G. mellonella is found throughout the world. It is one of two species of wax moths, with the other being the lesser wax moth. G. mellonella eggs are laid in the spring, and they have four life stages. Males are able to generate ultrasonic sound pulses, which, along with pheromones, are used in mating. The larvae of G. mellonella are also often used as a model organism in research.
Peridroma saucia, the pearly underwing or variegated cutworm, is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The variegated cutworm feeds on many plants, especially common fruits and vegetables. The moth undergoes 2–4 generations per year. The development of the moth slows in colder temperatures, indicative of its migratory nature. All stages of the life cycle have a developmental threshold for temperature. The moth is known to migrate to the northern regions during warmer months, returning to the southern regions when the climate becomes colder.
Aglossa cuprina, the grease moth, is a snout moth, family Pyralidae, described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1872. The grease moth is closely related to the genus Pyralis, and as a result, is usually associated with the meal moth, Pyralis farinalis.
Abantiades latipennis, known as the Pindi moth, is a species of moth in the family Hepialidae. It may also be referred to as a swift moth or a ghost moth, as this is a common name associated with Hepialidae. Endemic to Australia and identified in 1932, it is most populous in temperate rainforest where eucalypti are prevalent, as the larvae feed primarily on the roots of these trees. Females lay eggs during flight in a scattering fashion. The larvae live for over eighteen months underground, while adult moths survive for approximately one week, as they have no mouthparts with which to feed. The moths are preyed upon by a number of predators, including bats and owls. Brown in colour overall, males are paler and the identifying silver bars of the male's wings are more prominent than those of the female's, with dark margins. Male adults are generally smaller.
Thaumatotibia (Cryptophlebia) leucotreta, commonly known as the false codling moth, orange moth, citrus codling moth or orange codling moth, is a moth in the Tortricidae family under the order of Lepidoptera. Larvae of the moth feed on a wide range of crops from cotton and macadamia nuts to Citrus species. The larvae have a less selective diet than the codling moth, which feeds primarily on temperate fruit crops.
Platyptilia isodactylus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is native to central Europe, Mediterranean North Africa and southern Europe. It has also been recorded from China. It has been introduced in Australia as a biological control agent for ragwort.
The metallic coleophora moth is a moth of the family Coleophoridae. It is native to Europe and Armenia, but is an adventive species in the Nearctic ecozone, where it is found throughout the United States and southern Canada. It has also been recorded from New Zealand, Chile and Argentina. The habitat consists of grassy areas and waste ground.
Lymantria dispar dispar, commonly known as the gypsy moth, European gypsy moth, or North American gypsy moth, is a moth in the family Erebidae that is of Eurasian origin. It has a range which covers Europe, Africa, and North America.
Scrobipalpa obsoletella, the summer groundling, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in most of Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, from Iran to Asian Russia (Transbaikal) and Mongolia. It has also been recorded from South Africa and North America, where it is probably an introduced species. The habitat consists of coastal salt marshes and sandy beaches.
Scrobipalpa samadensis, the buck's-horn groundling, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in most of Europe and Russia.
Cudonigera houstonana, the juniper budworm moth, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Arizona, California, Kansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Eoparargyractis irroratalis is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1917. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Alabama, British Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Montana and South Carolina.
Macaria minorata, the minor angle moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1873. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Nova Scotia to Ontario, Quebec, Minnesota, New England, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
