What does lepidoptera mean?

Definitions for lepidoptera
lep·i·dopter·a

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word lepidoptera.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. Lepidoptera, order Lepidopteranoun

    moths and butterflies

Wikipedia

  1. Lepidoptera

    Lepidoptera ( lep-ə-DOP-tər-ə) is an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, 10 percent 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.Lepidopteran species are characterized by more than three derived features. The most apparent is the presence of scales that cover the bodies, wings, and a proboscis. The scales are modified, flattened "hairs", and give butterflies and moths their wide variety of colors and patterns. Almost all species have some form of membranous wings, except for a few that have reduced wings or are wingless. Mating and the laying of eggs is normally performed near or on host plants for the larvae. Like most other insects, butterflies and moths are holometabolous, meaning they undergo complete metamorphosis. The larvae are commonly called caterpillars, and are completely different from their adult moth or butterfly forms, having a cylindrical body with a well-developed head, mandible mouth parts, three pairs of thoracic legs and from none up to five pairs of prolegs. As they grow, these larvae change in appearance, going through a series of stages called instars. Once fully matured, the larva develops into a pupa. A few butterflies and many moth species spin a silk case or cocoon prior to pupating, while others do not, instead going underground. A butterfly pupa, called a chrysalis, has a hard skin, usually with no cocoon. Once the pupa has completed its metamorphosis, a sexually mature adult emerges. The Lepidoptera have, over millions of years, evolved a wide range of wing patterns and coloration ranging from drab moths akin to the related order Trichoptera, to the brightly colored and complex-patterned butterflies. Accordingly, this is the most recognized and popular of insect orders with many people involved in the observation, study, collection, rearing of, and commerce in these insects. A person who collects or studies this order is referred to as a lepidopterist. Butterflies and moths play an important role in the natural ecosystem as pollinators and as food in the food chain; conversely, their larvae are considered very problematic to vegetation in agriculture, as their main source of food is often live plant matter. In many species, the female may produce from 200 to 600 eggs, while in others, the number may approach 30,000 eggs in one day. The caterpillars hatching from these eggs can cause damage to large quantities of crops. Many moth and butterfly species are of economic interest by virtue of their role as pollinators, the silk they produce, or as pest species.

ChatGPT

  1. lepidoptera

    Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes butterflies and moths. There are over 180,000 known species in this order. These insects are primarily characterized by their distinctive wings which are covered in tiny scales, usually brightly colored, contributing to their patterns and designs. They have a complete metamorphosis life cycle consisting of four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis or cocoon), and adult.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Lepidoptera

    an order of insects, which includes the butterflies and moths. They have broad wings, covered with minute overlapping scales, usually brightly colored

  2. Etymology: [NL., fr. Gr. lepi`s -i`dos, a scale + ptero`n a feather, wing.]

Wikidata

  1. Lepidoptera

    Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies. It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies. The term was coined by Linnaeus in 1735 and is derived from Ancient Greek λεπίδος and πτερόν. Comprising an estimated 174,250 species, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, the Lepidoptera show many variations of the basic body structure that have evolved to gain advantages in lifestyle and distribution. Recent estimates suggest that the order may have more species than earlier thought, and is among the four most speciose orders, along with the Hymenoptera, Diptera, and the Coleoptera. Lepidopteran species are characterized by more than three derived features, some of the most apparent being the scales covering their bodies and wings, and a proboscis. The scales are modified, flattened "hairs", and give butterflies and moths their extraordinary variety of colors and patterns. Almost all species have some form of membranous wings, except for a few that have reduced wings or are wingless. Like most other insects, butterflies and moths are holometabolous, meaning they undergo complete metamorphosis. Mating and the laying of eggs are carried out by adults, normally near or on host plants for the larvae. The larvae are commonly called caterpillars, and are completely different from their adult moth or butterfly form, having a cylindrical body with a well-developed head, mandible mouth parts, and from 0 to 11 pairs of prolegs. As they grow, these larvae will change in appearance, going through a series of stages called instars. Once fully matured, the larva develops into a pupa, referred to as a chrysalis in the case of butterflies and a cocoon in the case of moths. A few butterflies and many moth species spin a silk case or cocoon prior to pupating, while others do not, instead going underground.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Lepidoptera

    lep-i-dop′tėr-a, n.pl. an order of insects, with four wings covered with fine scales—butterfly, moth, &c.—adjs. Lepidop′teral, Lepidop′terous. [Gr. lepis, -idos, a scale, pteron, a wing.]

U.S. National Library of Medicine

  1. Lepidoptera

    A large order of insects comprising the butterflies and moths.

Entomology

  1. Lepidoptera

    scale-winged: an order of insects with spirally coiled haustellate mouth structures; head free; thorax agglutinate; transformations complete four scale-covered wings.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of lepidoptera in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of lepidoptera in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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"lepidoptera." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/lepidoptera>.

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