This document provides an overview of two orders of insects - Coleoptera (beetles) and Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). It discusses the key characteristics of each order and focuses on some of the most common families within each order. The objectives are to provide knowledge about the taxonomy and identification of these groups. Descriptions include physical attributes as well as life cycles. References are provided for further reading.

1. University of Sulaimania
School of Science
Department of Biology
2nd Class Year
22nd La b.
Pterygotes - Neopteran Insects:
Order Coleoptera
Order Lepidoptera
Lecturer: Farhad A. Khudhur

2. Objectives:
• This lecture gives knowledge about the largest animal
group (order Coleoptera), beetles.
• Their classifications and identification keys.
• Focusing on the most common and important families
of beetles.
• Butterflies and moths (order Lepdoptera). Their
classifications and identification keys.
• Focusing on the most common and important families
of moths and butterflies.
Scientific content:
- Order Coleoptera
General descriptions
Classification: Suborder: Polyphaga
Order Lepidoptera
General descriptions
Classification: Butterfly families and Moth families

3. Order: Coleoptera
• Fore-wings modified to elytra and hindwings are
membranous.
• Chewing mouth parts,
• Different kinds of antennae
• No Cerci
• Mostly terrestrial and some aquatic
• Larvae (Campodieform or Scarabieform) with a distinct
head and biting (chewing) mouthparts, with or without
thoracic legs, only rarely with prolegs.
• The pupae of beetles are either with legs tightly pressed
against the body, or exarate, with the legs and wings held
free from the body.

5. Suborder: Polyphaga
• Family: MELOIDAE (blister beetle) Mylabris sp.
• Family: SCARABAEIDAE Adults may be recognized by the
lamellate terminal segments of their antennae.
(Rhinoceros beetles)
(Dung beetle)
• Family: TENEBRIONIDAE (darkling beetles)
(Tribolium spp.),
• Family: COCCINELLIDAE (ladybugs, ladybird beetles)
Coccinella septempenctata

6. Order: Lepidoptera
• The most distinguishing characteristics; scaly wings
and siphoning mouthparts.
• Cerci are not present
• Adults are terrestrial, mostly feeding on nectar
• Larval Lipidoptera are polypod (caterpillar) and found in a
variety of terrestrial habitats.
• Chewing mouthparts feed on plant materials (leaves).
• Mostly are regarded as serious agricultural pests.
• Pupae are obtect usually within silken cocoons spun by the
larvae, although many species pupate without a cocoon.

7. Superfamily: Papilionoidea
• Family: Nymphalidae (Painted Lady Butterfly)
• Family: Paplionidae (Swallow Tail Butterfly)
• Family: Lycaenidae (Blue Butterfly)
• Family: Pieridae (White or Sulfur Butterfly)
Superfamily: Bombycoidea
• Family: Saturniidae (Emperor Moth and Atlas Moth)
• Family: Bombycidae (Silkworm Moth) Bombyx mori
• Family: Sphingidae (sphinx moth )

8. Family: Nymphalidae (Painted Lady Butterfly)

9. Family: Paplionidae (Swallow Tail Butterfly)

10. Family: Lycaenidae (Blue Butterfly)

11. Family: Pieridae (White or Sulfur Butterfly)

12. Family: Saturniidae (Emperor Moth)

13. •Family: Bombycidae (Silkworm Moth) Bombyx mori

14. References:
• David, B. V. and Ananthakrishnan, T. N. (2004). General
and Applied Entomology. 2nd ed. Tata McGraw-hill
Publishing Co. Ltd. New Delhi. India. 1184 p.
• Elzinga, Richard J. (1997). Fundamentals of Entomology.
4th ed. New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, Inc. 475 pp.
• Gillot, Cedric. (2005). Entomology. 3rd ed. Springer,
Dordrecht. The Netherlands. 831 pp.
• Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, 2nd edition. Volume
3, Insects, edited by Michael Hutchins, Arthur V. Evans,
Rosser W. Garrison,
• Resh, Vincent H. & Cardé, Ring T. (2003). Encyclopedia of
Insects. USA. Academic Press, Elsevier Science, 1266 pp.