What is the order Lepidoptera?
Q: What is the order Lepidoptera?
A: The order Lepidoptera is the second biggest order of insects, which includes moths and butterflies including skippers.
Q: How many species are included in the order Lepidoptera?
A: The order Lepidoptera has more than 180,000 species in 128 families and 47 superfamilies.
Q: What is the meaning of the name Lepidoptera?
A: The name Lepidoptera comes from the Ancient Greek words λεπίδος (scale) and πτερόν (wing).
Q: Is the order Lepidoptera the largest group of species?
A: No, the order Lepidoptera is the second biggest order of species. The Coleoptera (the beetles) is the only order that has more species.
Q: When did the earliest discovered Lepidoptera fossils date back to?
A: The earliest discovered Lepidoptera fossils date to 200 mya or earlier.
Q: Were earlier butterflies adapted to flowering plants habitat?
A: No, earlier butterflies must have been adapted to a habitat of cycads and conifers, something which had not previously been suspected.
Q: Is there any common word for the group of moths and butterflies?
A: No, there is no common word for the group. Ordinary people talk of "butterflies and moths".
