ppt by Dr. J. Snyder, Professor Emeritus, Furman University Order Lepidoptera Butterflies and Moths ppt by Dr. J. Snyder, Professor Emeritus, Furman University

Among our best known insects Some are large, showy, not hiding Some are agriculturally important: either as eaters of our food or as pollinators

Evolutionary Placement

Panorpoida = those with sucking mouth parts (not biting) Two closely related orders within Panorpoida: Trichoptera and Lepidoptera

Trichoptera, Lepidoptera Among their closest relatives, these two are the ones with sucking mouth parts, not biting mouthparts

Brief look at Trichoptera Common English name = caddisflies Exclusively aquatic as larvae Larvae build a protective case of pebbles, etc.

Fossil evidence of Lepidoptera Embedded in rock or amber Best guess now = first ones around 40 to 50 million years ago

Characters of the Lepidoptera Name: “wings covered by scales” Almost microscopically small objects, in layers like shingles on roof

Have “complete” life cycle Egg to larva (“caterpillar”) to pupa to adult Holometabolous = a sign of advanced evolution Most busy at eating host plant = caterpillar stage Pupa: radical re-molding of body Adult’s only function = reproduction Typical adult lifetime = a week or two

Okay, what’s the difference? Between butterfly and moth adults, that is Antennae: best thing to differentiate Day-flying vs. nocturnal Thickness of body Drab vs. brightly colored wings BUT, exceptions to all of these:

Antennae: usually works Club at end, or hook at end, or anything else Butterfly Skipper Moth

Day-flying moths

Thickness of body Moth Moth Butterfly Skipper

Drab vs. Bright All of these are moths

And these drab insects are butterflies or skippers

So, don’t separate moths from others Checklists of Lepidoptera place skippers and true butterflies in middle of the list

Number of species Moths far out-number others Worldwide numbers (known species): about 150,000 total (20,000 are butterflies, skippers) North America: ~11,000 total (~750 non-moths)

Placing a critter within its proper family Look at many close details Proboscis: present or absent Shape and position of antennae Pattern of wing veins Wing shape Etc.

After awhile, recognize by sight Usually works, not always. Some real foolers.

Identifying one species from a closely related other one Might come down to shape of genitalia Coming along as a tool: DNA analysis

Most common non-moth families Hesperiidae: the skippers. Perhaps hardest to identify at species level Usually have those hooked antennae Usually drab brown, small to medium wingspan ~290 North American species

Papilionidae In eastern North America, all have “swallow tails” on hind wings, pretty large wingspan 33 species in North America

Pieridae Yellow or white wings, small to medium wingspan ~60 species in North America

Lycaenidae Blues, Coppers, and Hairstreaks Small wingspan ~135 North American species

Nymphalidae Large, diverse family: ~200 N.A. species Called “brushfoot” butterflies: 4 walking legs, front two legs are “brush feet—not walking. Used to “taste-test” plants Small to large wingspan

Some local Nymphalids

A famous Nymphalid: the Monarch

A word of warning Some experts pull out a number of Nymphalids, give them their own families (“splitters”)

Now, the moth families Perhaps as many as 63 families, or more, or less Some moths as small as mosquitoes, others are the largest of all Lepidoptera Number of South Carolina documented species = more than 1,888 (still counting!)

Just the most prominent or largest moth families Family Sesiidae: pretending to be stingers

Family Limacodidae Caterpillars can irritate skin if touched

Families Crambidae and Pyralidae Formerly lumped as Pyralidae Large family: ~1400 N. A. species Small adults, many shapes and colors

Family Geometridae The “inchworm” moths Over 1400 N. A. species: very diverse Very small to medium wingspan

Family Saturniidae Small group (~65 N. A species), but very prominent The “silkworm” moths—make big cocoon

Family Sphingidae Sphinx moths or hawk moths Large wingspan, wide and narrow ~125 N. A. species

Remember this slide? Sphingids

Family Noctuidae Largest Lepidopteran family: ~3400 N. A. species Extremely diverse size, shape, colors Very small to large wingspan Now includes two previously separate families: Notodontidae and Arctiidae

Just a few Noctuids

Arctiinae: previously a separate family (Arctiidae): typically brightly colored