The order Lepidoptera includes moths, butterflies, and skippers, comprising approximately 180,000 species. This document discusses their characteristics, life cycle, reproductive habits, and economic importance, highlighting their role as pests in agriculture and as pollinators. Key differences between butterflies and moths are also outlined.

1. LEPIDOPTERA
Entomology
Agr 401
Submitted By:
Aftab’s Group

2. INTRODUCTION
The order Lepidoptera comprises the moths
and butterflies & Skippers, one of the largest
insect Orders, with 180,000 species
 worldwide.
It includes Moths and butterflies
The term "Lepidoptera" means scale-wing in
Greek
There is a wide variation in size
in the Lepidoptera 4-100mm.

3. CHARACTERISTICS
Body, wings, appendages, are densely clothed
with overlapping scales, which give colour,
rigidity and strength.
Mouthparts in adults are of siphoning type.
Mandibles are absent.
The suctorial proboscis is coiled up like a watch
spring and kept beneath the head when not in
use.
Wings are membranous and are covered with
overlapping pigmented scales.

4. Forewings are larger than hind wings. Cross
veins are few.
Larvae are polypod-eruciform type.
Mouthparts are adapted for chewing with
strong mandibles.
antenna is short and three segmented.
Two to five pairs of fleshy unsegmented
prolegs are found in the abdomen.
Pupa is generally obtect.

5. Butterfly Skipper
Moth

6. DIAGRAM

7. DIFFERENCE B/W
BUTTERFLY & MOTH
MOTH
Generally yellowish white in colour
Nocturnal
Generally 2 ocelli present
Wings at rest hold in horizontal position
Pupae generally covered with cocoon
Larvae are generally covered with hairs

8. BUTTERFLY
These are bright coloured
Diaurnal in habit
The ocelli are absent
Wings are held vertical at rest
Pupae are naked known as chrysalis
Larvae are smooth and naked

9. LIFE CYCLE
The life cycle of a butterfly includes four
stages: egg, caterpillar or larva, pupa, and
adult.
The pupa stage is when butterflies
undergo a complete metamorphosis.
The time needed to complete the
metamorphosis varies in each species.

10. LIFE CYCLE
 A female may lay only a few eggs or tens
of thousands.
 After the caterpillars hatch, they usually
develop through 4 to 7 instars over a
period of a few weeks.
 When the caterpillar is ready to pupate
they generally find shelter to spin their
cocoons

11. LIFE CYCLE

12. REPRODUCTION
After mating is complete, the female searches
for a location to lay her eggs.
It is essential that she finds a place where an
appropriate food plant for her larvae is
available.
Females lay their eggs singly or in groups
directly on the underside of the leaf or on the
stem of the food plant.
Butterfly eggs vary in color, but most tend to
be white, green, or yellowdevelops inside.

13. PEST:
Crop damage by Lepidoptera is only done
by the larvae
Pink boll worm It’s a serious pest of
cotton
Moths and butterflies can cause huge
losses by damaging fruits, corn, potatoes,
cotton, tomatoes
Many other crops and garden plants as
well.

14. PINK BOLL WORM

15. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Butterflies and moth affect the economy
negatively
because they are pests in agriculture
major pests includes tortricidae, noctuidae
and pyralidae.
 Some species are valuable economic
resource.
Domesticated silkworm moth (bombyx
mori), the larvae of which form silken
cocoons.

16. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Biological control of weed
Pyralid cactus most succesfully
suppressed million of acres of prickly
pear cactus
Alligator weed stem borer ( arcola
malloi) was used to control the aquatic
plant known as alligator weed

17. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE:
Pollination
Moths (Lepidoptera) are the major
nocturnal pollinators of flowers.
While feeding on nectar, butterflies and
moths will unwittingly pick up pollen on
their legs, proboscis, or bodies and
transfer it from flower to flower

18. POLLINATOR HERBIVORE

19. THE END
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